Deliverable 4.1 Demolition Methods Impacts

Please, note that this report has been submitted to the EC but its content has not been approved yet. Deliverable D4.1 of the DISCOVER project (HORIZON-CL4-2023-TWIN-TRANSITION 01-11-101129909) summarises the methodology and main findings of Task 4.1 of the DISCOVER project, which examines current demolition practices, the feasibility of selective demolition, and construction and demolition waste (C&DW) management across Europe. A multilingual survey was developed using Microsoft Forms to ensure accessibility, anonymity, and broad participation. Eight language versions were produced, and the survey was disseminated over four months through decentralised outreach by project partners, who shared it via institutional networks, email lists, and social media. This approach resulted in 31 valid responses from companies of varying sizes and operating profiles in construction, demolition, and C&DW processing. The survey assessed organisational characteristics, pre-demolition procedures, demolition techniques used in different structural contexts, and attitudes towards selective demolition. Results show that visual inspection and hazardous-material identification are the most frequently adopted pre-demolition actions, reflecting standard industry practice. Mechanical demolition using carriers emerged as the predominant technique across most building types, while manual demolition remains significant for masonry, timber, and mixed-material structures, supporting its role in selective dismantling. Abrasive and explosive techniques were reported as specialised methods applied only in specific reinforced-concrete or steel structures. Respondents indicated that selective demolition would be more widely adopted if supported by fiscal incentives, stricter landfill regulations, clearer technical guidelines, and stronger waste-processing networks. Waste-stream data revealed that approximately 70% of C&DW is currently reused or recycled, consistent with EU targets, although 28% still ends in landfill. These findings provide a foundational dataset for subsequent life-cycle and sustainability assessments within Work Package 4 and highlight both the sector’s willingness to embrace circular practices and the systemic barriers that hinder broader implementation.