Finland is committed to the EU recycling goals, but recycling construction and demolition
waste (CDW) plastics is challenging due to the variable quality of the material and the
presence of potentially harmful substances. The main objective of this thesis was to evaluate
the product safety of CDW plastics, focusing particularly on volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and heavy metals.
In the experimental part, two products made from a recycled plastic mix, manufactured at
different times, were tested. VOC emission tests were conducted by two external
laboratories, and additionally, 18-day leaching tests were carried out in the Chemical
Engineering Laboratory at LUT to measure the leaching of heavy metals and other tested
elements.
The fresher sample (Sample B) exhibited significantly higher total VOC (TVOC) values
than the earlier manufactured sample (Sample A). Some individual VOCs identified were
classified as Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC) or Persistent Organic Pollutants
(POPs) under the REACH Regulation. However, their quantity was low and is unlikely to
limit the material’s usability. In the leaching test results, the concentrations of the heavy
metals lead, and mercury exceeded the limit of quantification. However, it cannot be directly
concluded from these results whether this limits the use of the recycled material; more
detailed analyses and comparisons with legislative limits are necessary.
The findings from this research can help promote the use of CDW plastics as a recycling
material, but additional tests are required to assess the risks posed by harmful substances and to ensure safety.
