Background Tackling the problem of construction and demolition waste (CDW) has recently been made a priority of European Union environment policy. The EU aims at reducing environmental damage by recycling or re-using the large amounts of material involved, so reducing consumption of raw materials and helping promote the sector’s economic stability. There are significant differences around the EU in the extent to which countries deal with the CDW issue, and much of the material still goes for incineration or landfill. An official report in 1999 recommended that where the private sector has not shown interest in developing reprocessing or recycling facilities, it may be appropriate for local authorities to consider establishing their own. In Portugal, regulations to control such waste have been widely ignored and lack of any integrated strategy or inspection programme has resulted in continuing illegal deposits around the country. In the project area, the municipality estimates that 15,480 tonnes of CDW are produced each year, representing. more than the amount of urban solid waste produced by the population (about 1,650 tonnes per year).Two problem areas of illegal dumping were in a proposed Nature 2000 Site, contributing to the degradation of landscape and habitats. Objectives The REAGIR project aimed to structure a service for collection and recycling of Construction and Demolition Waste in order to reverse the tendency of illegal dumping and degradation of the local landscape. It set out to define appropriate measures for the management of CDW in the municipality, to reduce the number and amount of illegal deposits, and to establish an effective monitoring procedure. It aimed to promote and demonstrate the viability of recycling and re-using these wastes and thus reduce landfill deposits in line with European policy objectives; and finally to promote use of recycled aggregates and other recovered products as alternatives to primary materials, so contributing to preservation of natural resources. The project was to co-operate with the existing DRAOTA landscape clean-up and rehabilitation project to identify and recover existing illegal deposits in the area. A pilot recycling facility, based on crushing, was to be established as a demonstration model for promoting recovery and re-use of CDW products in current public works, a system not yet well established in Portugal for these materials. Results The project succeeded in engaging 61% of CDW producers in a recycling scheme, introducing better controls and promotion of separation at source. This improved the ability to recycle and re-use, reducing the amount of waste dumped and benefiting different aspects of the local environment. Work began with analysis of information gathered from the 60 enterprises producing CDW in the project area. A collection system was then designed and implemented so that waste was separated at source into the inert fraction for recycling, other fractions that could also be recycled or re-used, and the remainder for disposal. A database was established to assist in monitoring the work. Residues were recorded as 32% mixed building materials, 33% concrete, 29% ceramic, 4% bricks and 2% other. Existing European, national and local laws governing CDW were examined and proposals developed for new law to achieve the controls required in the project area. The result was the innovative Local Solid Waste and Construction Regulations and CDW Collection System Regulations. Major impact was achieved by a mandatory requirement for operators to hold a CDW Management Certificate. These local regulations were ground-breaking through being ahead of Portugal’s national law. A pilot recycling unit producing broken stone and other construction materials was successfully installed and operated. During the 16 months of regular operation, 3,976 tonnes of waste was used to provide 3,690 tonnes of usable aggregates. Recycling produced 16,000 paving blocks and 420 curbs - using 20% of concrete-recycled aggregates. p>Pilot schemes achieved successful use of recycled materials in the building or maintaining of local roads. This aspect attracted interest from public and private bodies responsible for roads elsewhere in Portugal. The new measures showed progressive benefit to the environment. During the project about 20 deposits were removed and the illegal-dumping tendency reversed - there are now two new illegal dumps per year instead of 15. Two areas cleaned up were the conservation sites of Cabrela and Monfurado. The beneficiary is committed to continuation of the measures because of their favourable impact - the recycling unit has continued to function after the end of the project. This project has been selected as one of the 17 "Best" LIFE Environment projects in 2008-2009.