From waste to solutions:
Real-World Applications of Construction and Demolition Waste
CDW CONFERENCE 2026 | 6-7 May
From Waste to Solutions: Real-World Applications of Construction and Demolition Waste
CDW CONFERENCE 2026
Construction and demolition waste is an important resource. Its smart and targeted use helps reduce costs and create new value chains. Purposeful valorisation increases resource efficiency and supports the competitiveness of the sector. However, these materials have so far been used rather modestly as high-quality secondary raw materials.
CDW Conference 2026 focuses on how to expand the use of construction and demolition waste in a reliable and effective way. The conference will discuss solutions that help reduce dependence on primary raw materials. It will also address the role of innovation and the conditions needed for the wider uptake of circular materials.
The conference brings together researchers, policymakers, sector representatives, entrepreneurs and international experts to discuss developments, challenges and solutions in the field.
The program includes a conference on May 6 and site visits on May 7. The conference will take place at the Lasnamäe Circular Economy Center, located at Toorme 2, Tallinn. Since the street name is new, it is not yet available in all map applications, so we recommend using the former address, Punane 58, Tallinn, when searching.
Program
The conference day begins with gathering and coffee. This is a good opportunity to arrive, review the agenda, and talk with colleagues and field experts.
The conference begins with an opening speech.
Presentation I: Circular Construction and CDW in Estonia: Challenges, Projects, and results
Simo Ilomets - Senior lecturer and Program Director (building and infrastructure engineering) at Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
Presentation II: Turning Excavated Material into Value: Circular Solutions on the Rail Baltica Harju II Project
Andro Aavik - Project Manager, Verston, Estonia
Kuldar Sirelbu - Production Manager, Verston, Estonia
At the conference, they will share Verston’s real-world experience from the Harju II project, where excavated material from the site has been upgraded and reused in railway embankment layers. Their presentation will focus on how circular principles can be applied in complex infrastructure projects in practice, not only as an environmental goal, but as a technical and operational solution.
Presentation III: LCA as a quantification tool for CDW
Davor Kvočka - Civil Engineer and Researcher, Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, Slovenia
Presentation IV: Nordic Ecosystem for Circular Construction-project (NECC)
Jan Thomas Odegard - Sustainability and Development Strategist, Natural State, Norway
The Nordi Ecosystem for Circular Construction project (NECC) focuses on developing and strengthening a Nordic collaboration framework to promote circular economy principles in the construction sector, with an emphasis on sustainable materials, resource efficiency, and cross-border knowledge exchange.
Lunch, offering an opportunity to exchange thoughts on the morning’s presentations and prepare for the upcoming discussions.
This panel presents the results of the StoPWa project and showcases leading practices from the Nordic and Baltic countries in using construction and demolition waste (CDW) as secondary raw materials. The discussion will introduce StoPWa’s innovative multilayer stormwater filters made from CDW, tested in laboratories and full-scale pilot sites in Finland, Estonia, and Latvia.
Panelists:
Mika Horttanainen - Professor, LUT University, Finland
Arto Pennanen - Project manager, StoPWa-project, City of Lahti, Finland
Olli-Pekka Penttinen - Vice director of Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
Sergei Preis - Tenured Full Professor, TalTech - Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Estonia
Moderator - Rita Jürmann, Head of the Circular Economy Department, Tallinn Strategic Management Office, Estonia
A short break to take a moment to reflect on what has been heard and to discuss the topics covered so far with colleagues.
Construction and demolition waste remains one of the most challenging material streams to make circular. Using Latvia as a case study, this panel brings together representatives of science, construction practice, municipalities, CDW processing, and building materials production to discuss where the system currently fails and who must take responsibility to close the loop. The discussion will explore barriers across the CDW value chain and highlight conditions needed to move from waste management toward true circular use of construction materials, with relevance for the wider Baltic region.
Panelists:
Asoc. prof. Ģirts Būmanis - Leading Researcher, Riga Technical University, Latvia
Ģirts Kolendo - Supervising Engineer, Rigas Ota and Chairman of Board, Bauskas novada komunalserviss, Latvia
Jānis Butkevičs - Sustainability Lead, Citrus Solutions, Latvia
Agita Baltbarde - Board Member of the leading environmental services holding in Latvia “CleanR Grupa” European Climate Pact Ambassador for Latvia
Eva Dzene - Head of R&D and Quality, AS Sakret Holdings, Latvia
Moderator - Laura Vitola - Senior Researcher, Riga Technical University, Latvia
A short break to take a moment to reflect on what has been heard and to discuss the topics covered so far with colleagues.
A discussion on establishing a joint Estonia–Latvia–Lithuania working group within the Baltic Circular Hotspot (BCH) framework, focused on Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW). The session will explore shared goals, coordination mechanisms, common challenges, and opportunities for enhanced regional collaboration.
Jan Thomas Odegard - Sustainability and Development Strategist, Natural State, Norway
Martin Hagen - Project Manager, Natural State, Norway
The day concludes with dinner, where there is an opportunity to continue discussions in a more informal setting.
SITE VISITS
On 7 May 2026, site visits will take place at various locations. Participants will have the opportunity to explore practical solutions and see on site how circular applications of construction and demolition waste are implemented in practice.
Site visits:
- Lasnamäe Circular Economy Center tour
Lasnamäe (Toorme 2, Tallinn) is the second circular economy center in Estonia, where in addition to a modern waste station there is a general and electronics repair workshop, as well as a sewing repair workshop. The center has a reuse room for items, a circular shop, classrooms and even a circular café. The circular economy center has a small solar power plant on the roof, and the circular house is covered with a grass roof. In the center's waste station, all containers are completely enclosed inside the building to avoid any environmental disturbances (noise, dust, visual pollution). The toilets use rainwater that has passed through the treatment system for flushing, and rainwater is also used for irrigation.
- Pilot facility in Rae Parish for testing the performance of stormwater filters based on construction waste under real conditions
During the excursion, participants will visit the Estonian pilot site of the StoPWa project, where construction and demolition waste (CDW) is being tested as a potential filter material for stormwater treatment in real-life conditions. On-site, an overview of the project will be presented, providing insight into its goals, implementation, and environmental impact.
- Rail Baltica Harju II main line: limestone aggregate production in the cut, placement of crushed stone and sand into the embankment, and the excavation of unsuitable soil for construction. The visit gives a complete picture of how the railway alignment is built up on site – from the bedrock that is quarried to the embankment base that will support the future tracks.
All excursions start at 12:00 from TalTech, Ehitajate tee 5, where organized buses will take all participants to the excursion sites and bring them back.
Registration
Speakers
Davor Kvočka
Civil Engineer and Researcher, Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute, Slovenia
More
Olli Pekka Penttinen
Vice director of Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland
MoreSergei Preis
Tenured Full Professor, TalTech - Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Estonia
More
Ģirts Kolendo
Supervising Engineer, Rigas Ota and Chairman of Board, Bauskas novada komunalserviss, Latvia
More
Agita Baltbarde
Board Member of the leading environmental services holding in Latvia “CleanR Grupa” European Climate Pact Ambassador for Latvia
More
Simo Ilomets
Senior lecturer and Program Director (building and infrastructure engineering) at Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
MoreRita Jürmann
Head of the Circular Economy Department, Tallinn Strategic Management Office, Estonia
More
Partners
Project Partners
The conference is supported by two projects:
- StoPWa project: “Stormwater Treatment Using Construction and Demolition Waste” (Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021–2027, 01.04.2023–31.03.2026). Discover more: https://centralbaltic.eu/project/stopwa/)
- EPICENTRE: LCA Summer School for Professionals (EIT RawMaterilas, Jan 1, 2024 - Dec 31, 2026). Register here: https://apply.eitrawmaterials.eu/courses/course/21-epicentre-lca-summers-school-professionals
Contacts
StoPWa and EPICENTRE Project: Karin Robam ([email protected])
Program and partners: Karin Käär ([email protected])
Technical organization: Anne-Mari Dobrjanski ([email protected])