Asbestos in construction and how to advance in the regulation of its permanent elimination through inertisation and recycling. The cases of italy and spain

Abstract

Asbestos has been used massively for multiple applications for many years. However, once the diseases related to this material had been discovered, the European Union decided to intervene in the matter through complex regulation which the member states had to transpose into their own national legal system. In this respect, the regulation of the elimination of waste from architectural constructions and their demolition is of special interest. For this reason, the objective of this study focuses on ascertaining whether this regulation could be improved to advance the permanent elimination and possible recycling of these materials. To this end, the cases of two countries (Italy and Spain) are comparatively analysed, which, despite both belonging to the European Union, present differences in their regulation. To achieve this objective, the methodology is developed based on the study and comparative analysis of the regulation in common to both countries. Finally, the procedures and technologies for permanent elimination are analysed, such as the conversion of asbestos into inert material and its possible regulation, and confirmation is made of the need to undertake a regulation regarding the application of techniques based on the definitive elimination of the problem, since its eternal deposit as landfill fails to provide a reasonable solution. © 2021 Publicaciones Dyna Sl. All rights reserved.