Plastics in the construction industry have so far received little attention with regard to circular economy. This is despite the fact that a large proportion of plastics are used in the construction industry today (kunststoff.swiss 2023) and that they also contribute significantly to the GHG emissions of the construction industry (Heeren & Hellweg 2019). The largest proportion of GHG emissions comes from the production and combustion of plastic products at the end of their life; very few plastics are reused or recycled today.
In the Circoplast project, we investigated the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycling options for plastic products in the construction industry. We were able to identify a significant ecological potential, especially for recycling. Collection systems already exist for various plastic products (e.g., EPS sections), but only small quantities of plastics are collected. One of the reasons is that building owners and planners are often unaware that the collection option even exists.
The public sector has set itself the goal of promoting the circular economy and reducing waste volumes. One starting point is the plastic waste streams from the construction industry, which, thanks to the existing collection systems, could be fed into the cycle relatively quickly. With targeted support, the public sector can help to make greater use of these collection systems.
For the reasons mentioned above, we were commissioned by the AWEL Canton Zurich to create an overview of existing collection systems for plastics. This is intended to serve as a guide for planners, developers and other stakeholders in the construction industry by summarising key information such as collection containers, delivery criteria etc. for existing and emerging collection systems for plastic products. Information on contact persons is also listed. The compilation was carried out in close cooperation with our network in the construction industry and plastics recycling sector.
Download Overview of recycling options for plastics in the construction industry, as of May 2025