Towards a single joint tool for waste recycling: what are the implications and solutions for construction industry players?

New for eco-organizations: the obligation to set up a single joint tool by early 2025 to ensure the waste traceability system. Those concerned, the construction industry players will need to quickly have such a tool at their disposal. A solution exists, it is called QUALIDECHETS. This tool was developed by QUALITEL Solutions, a subsidiary of the QUALITEL Association, in partnership with CAPEB. Both are available to the Approved Coordinating Body (OCA) Building to integrate the QUALIDECHETS application as a single tool between the construction companies that come to drop off their waste and the collection points that collect it.

Construction waste management: everyone is concerned

The anti-waste law for a circular economy (AGEC) aims to accelerate the change in production and consumption models in order to limit waste and preserve natural resources, biodiversity and the climate. The construction industry is particularly concerned: the 3rd largest emitter of greenhouse gases and a major consumer of resources, it produces more than 42 million tonnes of waste per year.

Within the sector, all stakeholders are involved, starting with craftsmen and small construction companies: essential links in the circular economy, contributing to developing their territory with local jobs that cannot be relocated and purchases from local distributors, they can also improve the management of their waste by selective disposal, sorting and bringing it to the appropriate collection point. But for the dynamic to be deployed effectively, they must be supported and their procedures facilitated.

REP sector: a deployment in progress, which should be accelerated

The current deployment of the new REP Construction Products and Materials sector in the Building sector (PMCB) requires that the 4 approved eco-organizations (Ecominero, Valobat, Valdélia and Ecomaison) meet the needs of companies to enable proper management of their waste, free of charge.

The decree of July 3, 2024 goes in this direction: it modifies the specifications of the eco-organizations and coordinating organizations of the REP sector, asking the eco-organizations to set up "a single joint tool to ensure the waste traceability system [...]" and "[...] a single joint tool for professional holders of construction waste allowing them simplified access to the various recovery points for their waste." This tool must also specify in particular "the procedures for receiving and recovering waste for each of the points identified [...]".

Aware of the needs of craftsmen and construction companies, QUALITEL and CAPEB have collaborated to finalize the QUALIDECHETS application so that it meets all of the obligations cited in the July decree.

QUALIDECHETS: the unique tool from QUALITEL Solutions in partnership with CAPEB

The QUALIDECHETS application is a simple, educational tool, adapted to the practices of craftsmen and construction companies. It allows you to:

• Raise awareness and inform them about new sorting practices;
• Help them estimate their quantity of waste, site by site;
• Improve their waste management by informing them about the most suitable collection point in order to optimize reuse, repurposing and recycling;
• Ensure the traceability of their waste;
• Unite them around a single application regardless of the eco-organization.

The associated resources, developed as part of the project, combine a smartphone application with a national training program integrating sorting awareness, information on containers, collection points, traceability and handling of the application with its various functionalities specific to the practices of craftsmen and construction companies.

CAPEB has been working alongside QUALITEL Solutions since the inception of QUALIDECHETS and supports this tool which allows craft construction companies to ensure the traceability of their waste.

For Jean-Christophe REPON – President of CAPEB: "CAPEB is committed to working alongside eco-organizations to facilitate this transformation and ensure that each craftsman can fully contribute to preserving our environment while strengthening the local economy. Building craftsmen are key players in the transition to a circular economy. With QUALIDECHETS, developed in partnership with QUALITEL Solutions, they have a concrete and suitable tool to manage their waste responsibly and efficiently."

Because QUALIDECHETS has been recognized as a necessary project, the project benefits from the financial support of ADEME within the framework of a Call for Projects, won by QUALITEL Solutions in September 2022.

The QUALIDECHETS application can be quickly operational and provide a response adapted to the needs of craft businesses in close connection with the requirements of the decree of July 3, 2024.

For Bertrand LECLERCQ – President of QUALITEL Solutions: "We are ready: eco-organizations only have to provide us with their information regarding waste recovery points and the QUALIDECHETS application can quickly be made available to building professionals and craftsmen. The bulk of the work is done, a turnkey solution is within reach of eco-organizations to enable them to quickly respond to the new requirements incumbent upon them."

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.