Construction and demolition waste (CDW) accounts to about 80% of the total waste arising each year. Such waste is derived from activities related to the construction and demolition of buildings, road planning and maintenance as well as civil infrastructure.
The European Waste Catalogue provides a list of waste streams that are classified as construction and demolition waste, including concrete, gypsum, metals, glass, and asbestos, amongst others.
The European Union has identified CDW as a priority waste stream, with a high potential for recycling and recovery. As a result, the Waste Framework Directive has laid down a minimum recovery target for CDW, whereby Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that by 2020 a minimum of 70% (by weight) of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste, classified under chapter 17 of the European Waste Catalogue, shall be prepared for re-use, recycled or undergo other material recovery.
Since 2013, Malta has attained the stipulated recovery target, mainly through the backfilling of excavation voids with inert CDW, with a trend in recent years favouring recycling treatment operations.
In order to assist in the shift from recovery to recycling and preparing for reuse, the Construction and Demolition Waste Strategy for Malta (2021-2030) identified the need to introduce a new regulatory framework directed at the management of CDW. The Construction and Demolition Waste Framework Regulations (S.L.549.161) (hereafter referred to as the Regulations) were subsequently published in December 2023.
In addition to moving the industry towards a more circular one, the Regulations also aims to ensure the environmentally sound management of CDW by specifying the waste management responsibilities of the industry’s main actors, namely the developer, client, contractors, waste carriers, and site managers.
The Regulations also includes the requirement to submit a Pre-Demolition Audit (PDA) in the case of major applications or high-density residential developments (serving 16 or more residential units). This obligation is applicable as from 1st January 2026. Such developments will also need to meet specific waste management targets as well as targets on re-use and recycled material used in the construction of such developments. Such targets will enter into force by 1st January 2028.
Kindly access the following link for further information on Construction and Demolition Waste.
Documents related to the Construction and Demolition Waste Strategy for Malta:
Registration for approval to carry out Pre-demolition Audits (PDAs) under the Construction and Demolition Waste Framework Regulations (CDWFRs)
Starting from 1 January 2026, all major planning applications and residential developments serving sixteen or more units will require a PDA. PDAs can be carried out by warranted periti, certified surveyors, or environmental consultants approved by ERA. Individuals interested in carrying out such audits are invited to submit their expression of interest to ERA, along with the required documentation:
