Israel Wastes Resources by Ignoring Recyclable Construction Debris
Israel faces a significant economic inefficiency by treating construction and demolition waste as mere refuse, rather than a valuable resource. The current practice involves costly removal of debris from demolition sites, while simultaneously extracting, processing, and transporting new raw materials to meet ongoing construction demands. This cycle represents a "financial absurdity," as the country pays to dispose of usable materials and then incurs further expenses to replace them.
Much of what is termed "construction waste" in Israel, including concrete, asphalt, and aggregates, can be reprocessed into viable raw materials. Through sorting, crushing, screening, and quality control, these materials can be transformed into aggregates and engineered products suitable for new construction and infrastructure projects. This "endless quarry" is readily available within the country, particularly given the sustained boom in building and infrastructure development.
Companies like Greenmix are already implementing models that industrially process construction waste into secondary raw materials and engineered products. For instance, the company supplied over 200,000 cubic meters of CLSM (Controlled Low Strength Material) using recycled aggregates for metro and light rail projects. Similarly, approximately 300,000 tons of recycled aggregates were used in the Ashdod Interchange project, produced near the construction site. Localized production of recycled materials reduces transportation distances, fuel consumption, emissions, and costs.
Despite proven technology and successful implementation in major projects, the widespread adoption of recycled construction materials in Israel is hindered by systemic issues rather than technological limitations. While a standard for recycled aggregates (SI 5003) exists, many procurement policies and project specifications still favor natural aggregates, creating barriers for materials that meet engineering requirements solely based on their origin.
The approach should prioritize performance, quality, and safety over the source of construction materials. Recycled materials should not be preferred simply because they are recycled, nor should they be disqualified for that reason. When they meet professional standards, they should have an equal opportunity to compete. This shift could save the Israeli economy hundreds of millions of shekels annually through reduced mining, transportation, landfilling, and environmental impact, alongside direct savings from efficient material use.
