Four German industry associations, first and foremost the German Demolition Association, took this one year anniversary as an opportunity to ask their members about the effects of the regulation in practice. The result was unsurprising, at least for us. According to the survey results, the introduction of the Substitute Building Materials Regulation has posed considerable challenges for both manufacturers and users of mineral substitute building materials. The majority of respondents do not see any respite in their installation and more than half of the respondents even perceive the regulation as more complicated and more expensive than before. The recycling targets set by politicians with this regulation were thus missed, and even after one year, the regulation still raises many questions in practice. Some of the German federal states have therefore issued their own regulations again. 

All of this is reason enough for the German Demolition Association to organise its own specialist recycling congress in February 2025 to provide users with practical and legally compliant answers to questions about the regulation. The high level of expertise on recycling issues, which is gathered together in a dedicated committee within the framework of German Demolition Association, aims to provide all those involved with solutions based on practical examples. A panel discussion will highlight the discrepancy between the often politically inspired visions of the future circular economy, and what is currently technically and economically feasible. We are already very excited about the congress.

We also hope that a new German government will move in the right direction when elected in 2025. In the case of the Substitute Building Materials Regulation, for example, which took 16 years of consultation in various ministries, it is essential to correct an original defect, namely the elimination of the rule that tested and certified recycled material which is categorised as waste down to a single quality class. The desired turnaround towards a more circular economy in the construction industry will not work this way. Businesses in the German construction and demolition industry also have numerous other demands from a new federal government. One of the most important of these is an immediate programme to renew the ailing transport infrastructure; after all, our industry is dependent on a well-functioning road network. And also money must also be made available to create urgently needed affordable housing.   

We can only wait and see what is accomplished and turn our attention to things that are in our own hands. 

This time, our Fachtagung Abbruch on 14 March 2025 in Berlin is being held under the title, ‘Quality in demolition’.  Numerous presentations by experts will shed light on this topic, e.g. on structural blasting, challenging dismantling projects, disposal concepts or the utilisation of recycled building materials. Simultaneous English translation of the presentations will be provided.

The accompanying trade exhibition will offer a wide range of products and services relating to demolition, pollutant cleanup and recycling. You can view the programme for the Fachtagung Abbruch 2025 and register online on the event website: www.fachtagung-abbruch.de/en/. 

We look forward to welcoming you to Berlin on 14 March 2025.

Johannes Schlenter
Chairman of the board
Deutscher Abbruchverband e.V.