2022 Waste Valorization in Hong Kong and Rotterdam

Federico Savini, Associate Professor in Environmental Planning, Institutions and Politics at University of Amsterdam

While the mainstream debate on the circular economy sells us a world of green plastic, high-end recycled consumption, makers labs, etc., behind this exciting reality lies the major challenge of construction. Construction is the big deal, it produces 60% of all waste, almost totally not reused, and it produces 10% of all emissions (just concrete, excluding all those related to steel, aluminum, timber, plastic, and all other building materials), and it is doubling towards 2030. China is the largest player in this case, but Europe will become soon, with its largely outdated stock of post-war infrastructures. Federico presents a study that he conducted together with Viktor Wildeboer.