Only old wooden windows can be reused in reconstruction of the cities

Due to the massive damage to buildings and a large amount of construction waste, the issue of their reuse has become relevant. Waste can be reused in the restoration of damaged facilities or the production of building materials. According to Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development Nataliia Kozlovska, a concept is being developed for the reconstruction of Kharkiv and Mykolaiv, which will take into account the issue of the reuse of the remains of destroyed buildings.

The Minregion calls the adopted Procedure for Waste Management (ua)↗️resulting from destruction of buildings as a result of hostilities the first step in the introduction of recycling. But as for windows, only wooden frames and glass can be reused.

According to the Procedure:

• Wood could be reuse in arbolite, wood plastics, heat and sound insulation boards, chipboards, fuel briquettes; construction of temporary passages during the restoration of traffic through the obstacle; secondary material and energy resource for cement production.
• Glass - powdered aggregate for the production of concrete products, dry building mixes, reflective paints for road markings, etc., secondary raw materials for the production of glass products, optical cables, etc.

However, the Procedure does not operate with the concepts of ordinary glass, glass with an energy-efficient layer and triplex. Triplex or safety glass has a polymer film and does not belong to recyclable materials. In Ukraine, it must be taken to special landfills.

Also, these initiatives have not actualized the issue of the reuse of a PVC profile from destroyed windows and doors. Because the process requires the construction of a plant for recycling profiles to separate rubber, metals and other impurities from PVC.
Now in Ukraine old windows and doors end up in landfills.