The increasing consumption of natural resources, the high energy intensity of the production of construction materials, and the associated CO₂ emissions highlight the need for more efficient use of resources, recycling, and a transition to a circular economy. The thesis addresses the issue of the generation and management of waste concrete in Slovenia and the possibilities for its reuse through the use of advanced recycling processes, as there is no reliable data on the management of construction waste in Slovenia. Since cement production represents one of the largest sources of CO₂ emissions in the construction sector, effective management of waste concrete is important from an environmental, economic, and sustainability perspective. The thesis compiles and analyses legislation and relevant standards in the field of construction and demolition waste management in Slovenia, presents newer methods of waste processing, compiles statistical data on the quantities of waste concrete generated, its material flows, and examines the practice of construction and demolition waste management, with particular emphasis on modern recycling technologies that enable the separation of waste concrete into recycled aggregates and recycled cement paste for reuse in cement production. The empirical part is based on an analysis of legislation, statistical data obtained from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia (SURS), the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO), and Eurostat, as well as a survey conducted among four Slovenian construction companies. The survey examined the actual state of waste concrete management in practice, including the methods of its separation, collection, processing, and further use. The surveyed companies mostly separate concrete during demolition; however, the quality of recycling is often reduced by contamination with other materials, spatial limitations on construction sites, additional costs, and insufficient instructions in project documentation. The findings show that the key challenge to the wider implementation of advanced waste concrete recycling in Slovenia is no longer technological in nature, but rather ensuring high-quality separate collection at the place of generation, which represents a fundamental condition for effective recycling and the reuse of materials within a circular economy. The implementation of advanced recycling processes (the use of new waste treatment processes) could reduce the amount of waste concrete that is landfilled or otherwise disposed of, increase the proportion of recycled concrete available for reuse in cement production, and consequently reduce CO₂ emissions.
|
