The landfill permit/approval is a central concept at the interface of deconstruction practice, waste law, and disposal logistics. In concrete demolition, during strip-out and cutting operations, as well as in rock excavation and tunnel construction, it determines whether and under what conditions mineral construction materials, reinforcement content, and mixed fractions are accepted at a landfill. For projects in which Darda GmbH tools—such as concrete pulverizers or rock and concrete splitters—are used, the chosen demolition method significantly influences material purity, particle size distribution, and thus the prospects of obtaining a landfill permit/approval or pursuing alternative recovery.
Definition: What is meant by landfill permit/approval
In practice, landfill permit/approval is understood in two ways: first, the regulatory approval for the construction and operation of a landfill; second—and more relevant in everyday deconstruction—the approval of a specific waste for acceptance at a particular landfill. The latter refers to waste acceptance based on declaration analysis, assignment to a landfill class, and approval by the landfill operator within the framework of the applicable regulations. These notes are of a general nature; the decisive factors are always the currently valid legal requirements and the site-specific acceptance conditions of the respective landfill.
Legal framework and landfill classes
In Germany, the landfill permit/approval is based, among other things, on circular economy law, the landfill ordinance, and the waste catalogue ordinance. On this basis, assignment to landfill classes (e.g., inert, DK I, DK II, DK III) is made, each with different acceptance criteria. Determining factors include the material properties, eluate values, and organic parameters of the waste. Regional enforcement guidelines and landfill-specific acceptance conditions may specify the requirements in more detail. Landfilling is generally subordinate to recovery; it is considered when harmless and technically feasible recovery is not possible.
Waste acceptance: criteria, sampling, and declaration
A standardized approach is required to obtain a landfill permit/approval for a waste. The focus is on clear waste classification and representative analytics. Typical steps are:
- Definition of the waste according to the waste catalogue (e.g., mineral construction debris, concrete, mixtures)
- Preparation of a sampling plan (representative, batch-related)
- Analysis of solid and eluate parameters (e.g., sulfate, chloride, heavy metals, organic parameters)
- Declaration analysis and assignment to a landfill class
- Obtaining the acceptance statement from the landfill operator
- Accompanying and verification documentation under the applicable procedures (e.g., digital)
Sampling should be representative to avoid misclassification. For mineral construction waste, the fine fraction can significantly influence the eluate values. Selective deconstruction with precise separation techniques—such as with concrete pulverizers or concrete splitters—can support material purity and uniform particle size distribution.
Quality of demolition materials: influence of the method
The demolition method shapes the subsequent landfill permit/approval because it determines material quality. Darda GmbH tools enable controlled, force-based separations. This affects the following aspects:
Selective deconstruction and material separation
With concrete pulverizers, concrete components can be opened in a targeted way, reinforcement steel can be exposed, and materials can be routed separately. Depending on the task, combi-shears like HCS8 can assist with clean steel separation. Concrete splitters build up stresses within the component, create cracks along the material, and reduce uncontrolled fractures. The result is cleaner fractions such as pure concrete, steel, and, where applicable, masonry—with fewer interfering substances.
Particle size distribution and fines fraction
Particle size composition affects eluate values and acceptance criteria. Methods with low abrasion often generate fewer fines. A controlled particle size distribution can facilitate evaluation because fines can contribute disproportionately to leaching. Tailored processing (crushing, screening) complements precise deconstruction.
Emissions and side effects
Dust and wash water can contaminate the material. Low-dust, low-vibration separation methods support quality assurance, especially in sensitive environments such as hospitals, laboratories, or inner-city locations where special demolition is required.
Typical waste types from deconstruction and their classification
In concrete demolition and special demolition, predominantly mineral wastes are generated. Examples (not exhaustive):
- Concrete (plain or reinforced, after separation of metals)
- Masonry (brick, calcium silicate brick, mixed mineral fractions)
- Mixtures of concrete, brick, tiles, and ceramics
- Asphalt or screed (depending on the project)
- Metal fractions (reinforcement steel, embedded parts) after separating processing
Classification is carried out via waste codes, analytics, and—if necessary—a differentiated assessment of sub-batches. Mixtures with organic constituents, coatings, or harmful contaminants complicate approval and increase the requirements for analytics and documentation. Selective removal prior to demolition is therefore an important building block.
Special substances and sensitive boundary conditions
In complex projects, materials with harmful contaminants (e.g., PAHs, PCBs, asbestos-containing components) may occur. These must be recorded separately and assessed independently. In rock excavation and tunnel construction as well as in natural stone extraction, geogenic constituents (for example, sulfates or heavy metals) need to be taken into account. For special demolition, strict protection and documentation requirements apply depending on the task. In all cases, the landfill permit/approval is based on the material properties of the respective batch and the locally valid acceptance criteria.
On-site processes: from planning to acceptance
A practice-oriented sequence links technology and disposal law at an early stage:
- Survey: structural diagnostics, material flow planning, identification of potential interfering substances
- Demolition concept: selection of suitable methods (e.g., concrete pulverizers, concrete splitters) for selective deconstruction
- Sampling and analytics concept: representative samples, batch-related evaluation
- Pre-separation: metals, wood, insulation materials, bituminous layers, pollutant-containing components
- Declaration analysis and assignment: align waste codes and landfill class
- Logistics: container and loading planning, dust and emission control, weigh tickets
- Acceptance and records: acceptance statement, accompanying documents, digital verification
Documentation and verification
For the landfill permit/approval, complete documentation and transparent verification are crucial. These include investigation reports, sampling protocols, waste codes, acceptance statements, and weigh and accompanying documents. Consistent, batch-related file management facilitates review by the landfill and authorities and reduces delays.
Limit values and test parameters: overview
As part of the assessment, eluate and solid parameters are usually considered. Relevant parameters may include: sulfate, chloride, electrical conductivity, pH, DOC/TOC, loss on ignition, and heavy metals. Which parameters are decisive and which limit values apply depends on the landfill class and the current legal situation. Information on limit values must always be checked for currency; binding case-by-case evaluations are carried out by the competent authorities.
Risks in the absence of or unclear landfill permit/approval
Without reliable landfill permit/approval, there is a risk of downtime, return transport, intermediate storage, and additional costs. Unclear material flows or non-representative samples lead to additional requirements or rejections. Through early analytics, clean separation, and batch-pure handling—supported by precise separation techniques such as concrete pulverizers and concrete splitters from Darda GmbH—these risks can be reduced both organizationally and technically.
Application areas and their specifics in the context of the landfill permit/approval
In concrete demolition and special deconstruction, material purity and metal separation are central. Strip-out and cutting require the separation of non-mineral construction materials prior to demolition. In rock excavation and tunnel construction, predominantly inert-like masses are generated in which geogenic constituents must be examined. Natural stone extraction primarily targets recovery; landfilling concerns edge fractions or contaminated sub-quantities. Special demolition includes workspaces with specific protection requirements, where low-emission methods and seamless documentation are crucial for smooth waste acceptance.