RE-USE

A second life for old building materials 

When a new building goes up, new raw materials are used. And when buildings come down, most of those materials are thrown away. It's a straight line: from creation to disposal. But it doesn't have to be this way. Many of these materials can be reused to create something new. Enter RE-USE: a project working towards circular construction in the Meuse-Rhine region. 

RE-USE doesn't focus on waste. It sees buildings as a valuable source of materials. Still, turning old materials into new opportunities isn't simple. RE-USE tackles four big challenges: available data, complex legal rules, real-world construction issues, and a limited cooperation across borders. The project brings together universities, local governments, and businesses to solve these problems as a team. 

Because the project works across borders, it also builds bridges between different laws, languages, and business models. This makes cross-border collaboration easier and helps the circular economy grow stronger. 

As part of the project pilots will run in Liège, Aachen, Hasselt and Heerlen. Each one is different, showing how reuse can work in real buildings and real communities. These pilots are more than tests. They help develop tools, training, and new ways of working that can be used by small businesses, housing companies, and cities. 

RE-USE creates long-term value too. All the knowledge, tools, and ideas will be stored and shared through the European Centre for Circular Building and Transformation. That means the impact will continue even after the project ends.