Waste Prevention and Management Plan: The essential document for a sustainable construction project

Waste management in construction has long ceased to be a simple good practice and has become an unavoidable legal obligation. In Portugal, environmental legislation requires that all construction works — public or private — include a Construction and Demolition Waste Prevention and Management Plan (PPGRCD), ensuring that waste is managed in an environmentally responsible, traceable, and legally compliant manner. This document is essential not only for legal compliance but also for cost reduction, sustainability promotion, and advancing the circular economy in the construction sector.

Construction site demolition waste

What is the Construction and Demolition Waste Prevention and Management Plan?

The Construction and Demolition Waste Prevention and Management Plan (PPGRCD) is a technical document that details how waste generated during the construction process will be managed, from its origin to its final destination. Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) includes all materials resulting from construction, reconstruction, extension, alteration, maintenance, or demolition of structures. The PPGRCD is a mandatory component of the execution project and must be kept on-site for inspection by the competent authorities and shared with all parties involved in construction.

The Construction and Demolition Waste Plan transforms the building process into a sustainable, responsible, and legally compliant operation.

Legal Framework

The management of CDW follows Annex I of Decree-Law No. 102-D/2020, amended by Law No. 52/2021. Compliance is also required under the Public Contracts Code and the Legal Framework for Urbanisation and Building (RJUE), which establish waste management obligations in construction and urbanisation works.

When is the PPGRCD mandatory?

• Public works (contracts and concessions): The execution project must include a PPGRCD.

• Private works subject to licensing or prior notification: The CDW producer must comply with waste management requirements, including preparation and implementation of the plan.

• Minor repairs or DIY works: Waste management is the responsibility of the local urban waste management entity.

What must the PPGRCD include?

According to Decree-Law No. 102-D/2020, the plan must detail:

• A summary of the project and construction methods focused on prevention and recovery principles.

• Methodologies for incorporating recycled CDW materials.

• Waste prevention strategies and estimates of reusable materials on-site or elsewhere.

• Methods for storage and sorting of waste, including justification when sorting is not feasible.

• Estimates of waste quantities per European Waste List (EWL) code, identifying recyclable, recoverable, and disposable fractions.

A model PPGRCD is available on the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) website.

Waste Classification

Correct classification is the producer’s responsibility, based on the European Waste List (EWL), harmonised under Decision 2014/955/EU, with Chapter 17 specifically addressing CDW.

Responsibilities in Waste Management

• Owner: Prepares the PPGRCD.

• Contractor or concessionaire: Implements the plan, ensuring reuse of materials, incorporation of recycled components, and appropriate storage and sorting systems.

• Site director: Ensures technical compliance when using recycled materials.

• CDW producer: Promotes reuse, selective management, sorting, and delivery to licensed operators.

Revisions to the plan are permitted if proposed by the CDW producer or contractor and approved by the owner.

CDW Management Principles

1. Prevention: Reduce waste generation from the design phase.

2. Integration of recyclables: Use recycled materials whenever possible.

3. Reuse preparation: Recover materials fit for reuse.

4. Recycling: Convert waste into usable products.

5. Other recovery forms: Including energy recovery.

6. Elimination: Only as a last resort.

Reducing waste means lower costs, minimal environmental impact, and more sustainable construction.

On-site Sorting

Sorting is mandatory for all CDW to ensure recycling or recovery by material stream. On-site sorting takes priority and is licence-exempt when done by the producing entity. If impossible, justification must be recorded in the PPGRCD.

Traceability and e-GAR

All waste transport must be accompanied by electronic waste tracking forms (e-GAR), filed with the PPGRCD for verification. Waste, soil, and rock flows must maintain traceability through accurate records.

Municipal Requirements

Municipalities may require:

• Waste production estimates.

• Details of licensed waste operators.

• Final waste destination.

Licences may depend on submitting a CDW Data Record alongside the Construction Logbook.

Monitoring and Enforcement

The PPGRCD must be present on-site for inspection by municipalities, the Inspectorate-General for Territorial Administration, or other competent authorities. Non-compliance may result in fines, work suspension, or refusal of occupancy permits.

Practical Examples

• Renovating a single-family house: Reuse of doors, windows, timber flooring; on-site sorting of bricks, metals, and concrete; hazardous waste sent to licensed handlers.

• Building a multifamily property: Estimation of waste by type, provision of selective containers, inclusion of recycled aggregates, and issuing e-GAR for all transports.

• Controlled demolition: Identification of hazardous materials (asbestos, lead), selective dismantling, reuse of metal or pavement components, and routing per EWL.

Practical Advice

• Develop the PPGRCD during the design stage to identify prevention and recovery opportunities.

• Engage all stakeholders—designer, owner, contractor, and site manager.

• Use the APA model to meet legal standards.

• Keep all tracking records (e-GAR) up to date.

• Work only with licensed operators.

• Incorporate recycled materials where possible.

• Record and justify any plan changes.

• Seek specialist advice for complex or hazardous projects.

  
  

Effective waste management is not just a legal obligation—it is an opportunity to cut costs, promote sustainability, and enhance a project’s public image.

In Short

The Construction and Demolition Waste Prevention and Management Plan goes far beyond mere bureaucracy. It embodies the construction sector’s commitment to environmental sustainability, circular economy, and social responsibility. By preventing waste generation, promoting reuse and recycling, and ensuring proper material handling, the PPGRCD enables more efficient, less polluting, and sustainable construction aligned with global sustainability goals. Complying with this framework is not only following the law—it is taking an active role in building a more sustainable future.