Economy

The Circular Economy isn’t a buzzword. It’s a mandate—and a procurement priority.

To reduce waste, we need to track it first. Hub360 makes every load:

• Real-time visible

• Immutable and archived

• Traceable by material, project, driver, or site

The days of “dig it up and dump it” are over.

With the launch of Ireland’s Circular Economy Strategy and the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy (2024–2030), local authorities are now expected to treat construction materials as valuable resources, not disposable by-products.

Nowhere is this shift more visible than in road construction—and particularly in the handling of blacktop planings.

In Ireland, councils are increasingly under pressure to manage resources efficiently and sustainably. One area that often goes unnoticed is the handling of milled asphalt, commonly known as blacktop. This material, generated during road resurfacing projects, holds significant value both environmentally and financially. Yet, without proper tracking and reuse strategies, councils risk not only wasting resources but also falling short of compliance with emerging European standards.

Ireland has made significant strides in managing construction and demolition (C&D) waste, achieving an 82% recovery rate—exceeding the EU’s 70% target. However, a closer look at the figures reveals a critical issue: only 10% of this waste is recycled, with the vast majority directed towards backfilling. Additionally, while Ireland’s overall Circular Material Use Rate (CMUR) stands at a mere 1.8%, far below the EU average of 11.5%, the construction sector plays a crucial role in this deficit. The construction industry generated 32.6% of Ireland’s total waste in 2020, making it the largest contributor among all sectors. Yet, limited recycling and reuse efforts mean that valuable materials are not being reintegrated into the economy. This reliance on backfilling rather than recycling highlights a key area where improvement is necessary for Ireland to align with leading European countries in sustainable construction waste management.

In today’s fast-paced construction and infrastructure industries, efficiency is paramount. Yet, many businesses still rely on outdated, paper-based tracking systems for aggregate deliveries, leading to costly inefficiencies, compliance risks, and revenue losses.

With millions of euros worth of materials transported annually, it’s time to consider a smarter, more efficient approach. In this blog, we’ll explore the hidden costs of manual tracking and how digitisation with Hub360 can help businesses cut costs, enhance compliance, and improve efficiency.