The Agriculture Minister, Mr Costas Kadis, announced on Friday that Cyprus aims to reduce 70% of its construction and demolition waste. Currently, approximately 2.2 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste is generated in Cyprus, and 57% of this ends up in landfills.
The initiative is part of the DEFEAT project implemented by Frederick University in collaboration with the environment department. Together they are working to develop a fire-resistant, insulative material made from construction and demolition waste which can be used in the façade, either in new or existing buildings. Not only is this beneficial to the fire safety of buildings, but will also make them more energy efficient, contributing to reduced energy bills while also being kinder to the environment.
The waste separation takes place via an innovative robotic method that has been developed through a detailed experimental study. Prior to this, any separation of waste that did take place was done manually, which is a much less efficient and effective option.
This exciting development for the construction industry will also help to bring Cyprus in line with the EU’s Green Deal which aims to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, with ambitious targets in place that each member state will have to contribute to.
Speaking at Friday’s conference, Mr Kadis congratulated the inventors and also stated that the Agricultural Ministry is encouraging the private sector to create more construction and demolition management facilities, with the aim of increasing the number from 2 to 11 across the island.
To conclude, this is a very positive move for the Cyprus property and construction industry, with long-term benefits for developers, property owners, and the environment.