The building and construction industry generates one of the most voluminous waste streams. The on-going construction boom in most of the countries of the MENA region is accompanied by the generation of significant Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) quantities. These wastes are of varying nature, origin and value, requiring an integrated approach to increase their circularity potential and to minimise their impact on the environment and society.

The EU-funded WES project just released a video introducing the key components of sustainable CDW management as well as highlights from a relevant WES Study Visit that took place in Marseilles with participants from seven Mediterranean countries.

In complementarity with other national and regional CDW activities implemented by WES, the film aims to emphasize that there are regulatory, economic and technical measures that, if driven by innovation and adapted to local contexts, they can encourage a more effective, circular and eventually, sustainable management of this waste.

As the video mentions, integrated and optimised management of CDW reduces damage to natural ecosystems from waste disposal, extraction and consumption of natural resources; it contributes to a safer and cleaner environment and helps combat climate change. It can furthermore stimulate local and decentralised economies, creating new jobs.

The video was developed in close cooperation with leading technical experts in the field and is the second of a series of videos on environmental protection and water management that will be produced under the WES project.

The video is available through the following link: https://www.wes-med.eu/library/videos/

All versions of the video with English, French or Arabic subtitles are also accessible via the WES YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wesmed1146