The Problem of Recycling Construction Waste in Poland

In recent years, along with the increase in social environmental awareness, more and more attention is paid to activities related to waste management and environmental protection. Every sector of the economy, including the construction industry, faces the problem of waste management. It is estimated that in 2021 the consumption of natural resources amounted to over 100 billion tones on a global scale, of which about 50% was in the construction sector. Every year, as a result of construction, renovation and demolition works, only in the countries of the European Union, almost 40% of the world’s waste is generated, which should be properly managed. The reuse of raw materials obtained from waste processing as additives for the production of new composite materials often contributes to the improvement of the properties of the resulting composites. Recently, the circular economy, assuming the reuse of building materials, is becoming more and more popular. It is estimated that the Polish economy is currently only 10.2% circular. The transition to a circular economy is a long-term and difficult process, not only for organizational and financial reasons, but also because of the legal aspect. The study reviews the literature on the technological possibilities of recycling construction waste and identifies areas of their reuse. It also presents data illustrating the current situation of the Polish and European economy in this regard.