Because this represents a major challenge in terms of reducing the production of waste from BTP, the traceability of waste has been at the center of attention for the past ten years.
On the side of quarries, two types of waste are particularly targeted: inert waste And the excavated land.
In practice, their recovery makes it possible to limit the storage of unnecessary waste and therefore to considerably reduce the overall volume of waste on site. However, for effective waste traceability and optimal recovery, the challenge is to fully understand what we mean by inert waste today.
Because let's say it, this type of waste is very particular! According to the Environmental Code (Article R. 541-8), can be considered as inert waste: “any waste that does not undergo any significant physical, chemical or biological modification, that does not decompose, does not burn, does not produce any physical or chemical reaction, does not produce any physical or chemical reaction, is not biodegradable and does not deteriorate the materials with which it comes into contact, in a manner likely to cause damage to the environment or to human health”.
The majority of this inert waste is so-called mineral waste. They come from BTP, in particular construction and demolition activities: stone, earth, soil, concrete, concrete, cinder block, brick, glass, tile...
Some of the inert materials also come from the extractive industry, i.e. from the exploitation of the quarries in which you work on a daily basis.
But in concrete terms, why is the traceability of inert waste so important today?
Traceability of waste: the first action to act on non-biodegradable waste
Even if they are not dangerous for the environment and human health, inert waste represent nearly 70% of waste in the building sector. Which is equivalent to 28 million tons every year. The main problem is that they are not biodegradable.
Translation? Given their quantity, this waste represents a significant risk of landscape degradation (land use, visual pollution, etc.).
Over time, the traceability of waste has therefore become an absolute necessity in order to avoid illegal deposits and to ensure the maximum recovery rate of identified waste.
Because in practice, let's keep in mind that inert waste is actually a gold mine in terms of material!
Moreover, the term “waste” is, In fine, far from the potential for reuse and recyclability of these materials. Not to mention the profitability that you could benefit from by allowing them to be re-used.
But be careful, in one sense as in the other, you must start by organizing the traceability of inert waste from your career in order to be able to derive any benefit (environmental or economic) from it.
Did you know that? The 2020 recycling rate target has been reached!
Recognizing the value of the deposit represented by inert waste, the framework directive 2008/98/EC set their recycling rate at 70% by 2020.
A first objective largely exceeded with 76% recycled inert waste. A great collective success that prompted theUNICEM (National Union of Quarry Industries and Construction Materials) as well as the public authorities to increase their ambition for waste in the sector. New objective: to reach 90% recycled materials by 2028. To achieve this, Synaxe provides you with an update on current regulations and the methods to be preferred.
Waste traceability, at the heart of regulations
In February 2020, a government law made the traceability of waste in France an essential subject for all professionals of BTP, construction including quarries.
What's his name? Law No. 2020-105 of 10 February 2020.
Its objective? Fight against waste and promote the circular economy - hence its nickname “anti-waste law”.
To do this, this law relies on the traceability of waste, excavated soil and sediments. Better, the Decree No. 2021-321 of 25 March 2021 relating to the traceability of waste is changing the regulations in this area.
From now on, who says traceability of waste means dematerialization of waste tracking forms (BSD), broadening the scope of the obligation to keep chronological records or even the obligation to transmit the content of its chronological register.
Enough to improve the traceability of waste, but also to fill a data gap and simplify your administrative obligations.
Regulatory development No. 1: keeping a register of waste, excavated soil and sediments
New waste managers, including managers of excavated soil and sediments with or without waste status, must now maintain an internal chronological register in order to facilitate the traceability of waste.
According to the I of article R.541-43-1 of the Environmental Code, the managers of excavated land and sediments concerned are those “producing or shipping excavated soil and sediments, collectors, transporters, traders, brokers, brokers, operators of facilities for the transit, grouping or treatment of excavated soil and sediments, and persons who value excavated land and sediments”. Everyone must keep “an up-to-date chronological record of the production, dispatch, reception and treatment of this waste and of the products and materials resulting from the recovery of this waste.”
Good to know: in 2022, waste traceability is going digital!
Since January 1, 2022, as:
- Persons producing or treating excavated soil and sediments;
- Persons operating an installation for the transit or grouping of excavated soil and sediments;
You have the obligation to transmit the content of your chronological register to the national waste register in electronic format.
How? Via a teleservice system accessible from The site of the national register of waste, excavated soil and sediments (RNTDS).
When? Within seven days from the occurrence of the generating event for waste. Note: for excavated soil and sediments, you have until the last day of the month following the triggering event to file your declaration and meet your waste traceability obligation.
Regulatory evolution no. 2: guaranteeing the traceability of hazardous waste via dematerialized tracking forms
To ensure the traceability of hazardous waste, the Decree of 25 March 2021 requires stakeholders concerned with the prevention and management of waste, as well as producers and managers of excavated soil and sediments, to dematerialize their waste tracking forms. Mandatory dematerialization since January 1, 2022 via the application Tracktrash : a system for managing waste tracking slips (BSD).
Good to know: the traceability of waste in paper format still relevant in 2022
The traceability of certain hazardous waste by digital means will only be mandatory as of January 1, 2023. Affected are: refrigerant waste and waste from healthcare activities with infectious and similar risks (DASRI). Therefore, the traceability of this waste will still be done using paper forms until December 31, 2022.
Objective 2028: improve waste traceability and reach 90% of recycled waste
To achieve the new objective set by the National Union of Quarry Industries and Construction Materials (90% of inert waste recycled by 2028), you can take action on a daily and long-term basis. How? Starting by surrounding yourself with fine professionals who know the challenges and constraints of your inert waste.
Choose an eco-organization that can take care of your waste
To support companies towards better management of their waste, promote the traceability of waste, the recovery of used materials and develop recycling, eco-organizations have been created and approved by the state over the last decade. This is evidenced by Eco-mobilier, an eco-organization in charge of the furniture, games and toys, DIY and garden sectors.
Following the anti-waste law for a circular economy (AGEC), and the extended producer responsibility (EPR) regime extended since January 1, 2022 to construction products and materials in the building sector, a new eco-organization has been created.
What's his name? Ecominéro − eco-organization created by and for manufacturers of mineral construction products and materials (you).
Its objective: to simplify your life in order to help you meet your new waste obligations, starting with waste traceability.
Ecominéro is currently awaiting its approval. You can already pre-join. This action will make it possible to demonstrate to the public authorities the importance of an eco-organization dedicated to the construction materials sector consisting mainly of minerals.
Better understand: why pre-join Ecominéro?
By pre-joining Ecominéro, you will say yes to a circular economy within your sector, yes to waste traceability and total recyclability. You will undertake to respect rigorous specifications, favorable to the collection and treatment of inert waste. But above all, you are joining an organization whose solutions have all been specially designed to allow you to comply with these specifications in line with the obligations of your extended producer responsibility (EPR). As soon as Ecominéro has obtained its approval, you will thus be able to benefit from:
- a territorial network of inert waste collection points close to your sites;
- from the traceability of waste from your career to the use of materials during their second life;
- regular information on your quarterly and annual obligations as well as awareness of good waste sorting practices on your sites.
To meet your legal obligations and boost your recycling rate: collaborate, calculate, initiate and raise awareness!
- First solution: set up partnerships with local recycling channels.
- Second solution: favor aggregate production based on the real needs of your customers.
- Third solution: initiate recycling within your career by using, for example, inert waste for the partial or total backfilling of extraction areas or even the production of landscape models.
- Fourth solution: raise awareness and train your teams: the key to seamless waste traceability, sorting and recycling in accordance with the rules of the art - in line with your current obligations.
As you will have understood, waste traceability is only the first step in your regulatory obligations in terms of inert waste and soil excavated in quarries.
It is in part thanks to it that the entire sector will manage to reach its new objective: 90% of inert waste recycled by 2028.
An ambition that is good for the environment, good for your finances, good for the image of careers among the general public (concerned about the impact of careers on the environment − fauna and flora combined).
In 2022, waste traceability is taking a new turn: that of dematerialization and collaboration. What's next will depend only on you!
In February 2020, a government law made the traceability of waste in France an essential subject for all professionals of BTP, construction including quarries.
What's his name? Law No. 2020-105 of 10 February 2020.
Its objective? Fight against waste and promote the circular economy - hence its nickname “anti-waste law”.
To do this, this law relies on the traceability of waste, excavated soil and sediments. Better, the Decree No. 2021-321 of 25 March 2021 relating to the traceability of waste is changing the regulations in this area.
From now on, who says traceability of waste means dematerialization of waste tracking forms (BSD), broadening the scope of the obligation to keep chronological records or even the obligation to transmit the content of its chronological register.
Enough to improve the traceability of waste, but also to fill a data gap and simplify your administrative obligations.