PRACTICAL CASES OF RECYCLING SECONDARY GLASS IN BUILDING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31650/2786-6696-2026-15-68-78Keywords:
recycled glass, cullet, recycling, construction materials, green constructionAbstract
For Ukraine, the issue of waste management and recycling remains one of the most pressing environmental problems. Glass waste accounts for a significant proportion of the total mass of solid household waste. At the same time, glass does not decompose in natural conditions, which creates a long-term burden on the environment. However, it has the potential to be a promising raw material that can be recycled without losing its basic physical and chemical properties. In this regard, the issue of recycling secondary glass is particularly relevant, especially in the construction industry, which is the main consumer of natural resources (about 50%) and therefore needs to introduce technologies that use alternative raw materials.
This will contribute to reducing the environmental impact, rational use of resources and increasing the economic efficiency of construction. The aim of the work is to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of implementing successful global practices of using recycled glass for the production of building materials in the current conditions of Ukraine.
The analysis of scientific works has revealed the most successful cases of glass recycling for the production of building materials in global practice. The production of asphalt concrete mixtures with the addition of 10 – 30% glass cullet (glasphalt), thermal insulation materials based on foam glass, lightweight concrete with micro-crushed glass as a partial substitute for sand, and finishing materials such as decorative panels and mosaics made of coloured glass chips. In Ukraine, despite the availability of production capacities, the level of glass reuse remains low due to the underdeveloped infrastructure for the collection, sorting and cleaning of glass waste. However, the growing demand for building materials in the post-war reconstruction process creates favourable conditions for scaling up such technologies.
To implement global experience in the use of recycled glass for the production of building materials in Ukraine, the following steps must be taken:
1. Improve the regulatory framework, namely, initiate amendments and develop a series of state building codes and harmonise them with the requirements of the European Committee for Standardisation regarding the use of secondary raw materials in construction.
2. Introduce economic incentives by establishing tax breaks for manufacturers of building materials based on secondary mineral raw materials and giving priority in public procurement to materials containing such raw materials.
3. Create a regional infrastructure for the collection, sorting and processing of recycled glass.
4. Conduct social and informational events.
5. Given the needs of Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, the highest priority is to establish the production of thermal insulation materials (foam glass) to improve the energy efficiency of buildings; develop concrete mixtures based on recycled glass for 3D printing of building structures as an alternative rapid technology for restoring destroyed buildings, and develop materials based on recycled glass for road construction.
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