CSE welcomes Delhi govt move to use recycled C&D waste

A green body today welcomed Delhi government's decision to mandate recycled products from construction and demolition (C&D) waste for its building projects in future and urged it to to announce a composite policy on such wastes for improved collection.
"This is an important move forward as construction and demolition of buildings cause enormous waste - about half of all materials used - that degrades land and environment," said Anumita Roychowdhury, head of Centre for Science and Environment's sustainable urbanisation team.
The Delhi government has issued an advisory on the use of products made out of recycled waste by the Public Works Department (PWD).

It has acknowledged that processing of construction and demolition waste has great potential to save urban space, reduce negative environmental impacts, conserve natural resources and address the shortage of building materials, the green body said in a statement.
"We urge the Delhi government to take the next steps to announce a composite policy on C and D waste like other states for improved collection, segregation and handling of waste.
"Organise more decentralised collection and recycling centres. Penalise wrongful disposal and littering and implement tax measures to lower cost of recycled products to make them competitive. At the same time, take steps to build public awareness," Roychowdhury said.

CSE said that the advisory has asked for use of such recycled products as a first choice in all construction works.
All Delhi government agencies will be required to incorporate a clause in their tenders that mandates use of a minimum of 2 per cent recycled products from construction waste in all future contracts for building works and 10 per cent recycled products for road works, CSE said.
The green body said that Delhi is estimated to generate about 4,000-4,600 tonnes per day (TPD) of C and D waste. This waste is inert but bulky and is either dumped in city landfills or in open spaces, water bodies and flood plains.