Recycled aggregate certification moves forward in Navarra

On 27 May 2025, a key event took place in Pamplona (Spain), the fourth Regional Stakeholder Event of the INERTWASTE project of Interreg Europe. Around 25 people attended the meeting, mainly representatives of waste management companies and public institutions, including those involved in construction works in Navarra.

During the event, the INERTWASTE project was presented, including the latest TLJ held in May in Guldborgsund (Denmark), and the process for developing a certification regulation for recycled aggregates not subject to CE marking was introduced, a pioneering initiative in Navarra (Spain).

This new regulation aims to promote the circular economy by valorising construction and demolition waste (CDW), encouraging its use in new construction projects. The proposed certification will ensure the technical quality of recycled aggregates, facilitating their acceptance by end users such as the Public Works Department of the Government of Navarra, construction companies, and local councils. Until now, the lack of a clear guarantee regarding the quality of this material has been one of the main bottlenecks preventing its widespread use in public works.

The work is being carried out by a team composed of representatives from CEMOSA, the Government of Navarra, Gestión Ambiental de Navarra (Orekan), the Public University of Navarra (UPNA), and other key stakeholders in the sector. The publication of the regulation is expected by the end of 2025.

In addition to the technical requirements of the regulation, the event also addressed the environmental aspects requested to recycled aggregates. Orekan and the Government of Navarra are preparing a guideline based on previous experiences such as the European project RCdiGREEN. The importance of environmental risk assessment (particularly through leaching tests) and the need to adapt requirements to the specific conditions of the region of Navarra were emphasized.

INERTWASTE aims to engage more stakeholders who can drive change, especially those that demand the use of these recycled materials in construction projects, such as the Public Works Department of the Government of Navarra, municipalities, and construction companies. The INERTWASTE project is playing a key role in this process by facilitating the exchange of good practices between European regions and providing technical support for the development of public policies that promote the circular economy.