Construction waste materials to be reused

NEW DELHI: As part of efforts under Swachh Bharat Mission, the Government has now permitted substantially enhanced reuse of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in construction.

In consultation with the Consumer Affairs Ministry, the Urban Development Ministry has decided to allow use of C&D waste to the extent of 20 per cent of coarse and fine aggregates, known as "bajri" in construction of load bearing items and up to 100 per cent for non-load bearing purposes.

The Bureau of Indian Standards ( BIS) has accordingly modified the existing specifications in this regard which only allowed use of natural aggregates such as those from river beds in construction.

According to UD Ministry, the new provision allowing use of C&D waste is expected to significantly help in reuse of such waste since more than 100 lakh metric tonnes of C&D waste is generated per year in urban areas, making its disposal in a safe and sanitary manner, a major challenge.

With growing urbanization, a shortage of 14,000 crore tones of construction aggregates in housing and road construction sector is estimated in coming years. Reuse of C&D waste under new provisions can to certain extent address this shortage.