Expert in Sustainable Development Discusses Construction Waste Management
Iheb Ben Salem, an expert in sustainable development, stated that the volume of construction and demolition waste reached approximately 15 million cubic meters in 2019, with an annual increase of 1.3 million cubic meters per year. In a statement to "Jawhara FM" during a seminar on the perspectives and means of valorizing construction and demolition waste, organized by the Tunisian Observatory of Public Policies, Ben Salem added that recycling these waste materials allows for the extraction of granular materials that can be used in road paving and sidewalk coating. This contributes to reducing the volume of construction waste, which could reach nearly 20 million cubic meters by 2040.
Ben Salem indicated that the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation (APII) could create material recycling centers and define a set of levers to ensure the economic profitability of these projects. He also suggested that community enterprises could be adopted to invest in waste valorization due to their social impact on inland regions, with the establishment of investment incentives in this area, especially since 86% of construction and demolition waste is entirely recyclable.
On her part, Awatef Larbi El Massaï, the Interim General Director of Environment and Quality of Life at the Ministry of Environment, revealed the existence of a preliminary study on waste management prepared by the National Waste Management Agency (ANGed) concerning three governorates, including Sfax and Sousse, aiming to valorize construction and demolition waste, which has become a problem, according to her.
She explained that they are preparing an agreement with the Ministry of Equipment and Housing to use approximately 20% of construction and demolition waste in the creation of new roads and agricultural tracks.
