EoW criteria for waste-derived aggregates

Waste-derived aggregates are being considered as possible candidates for development of End-of-Waste (EoW) criteria at European Union (EU) level in accordance with Article 6 (1) of the EU Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) as a means of increasing the recovery of resources from waste. If a waste-derived aggregate achieves EoW status, it will become a (construction) product and hence be regulated by the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) which means that in most EU Member States there will be no applicable environmental protection regulation. It is therefore important that the criteria a waste-derived aggregate must fulfil to achieve and maintain EoW status ensure sufficient protection of the environment and human health. It is shown that EoW criteria that do not include restrictions on the conditions of the use of waste-derived aggregates for specific construction purposes will result in leaching limit values that are so stringent that very few, if any, waste-derived aggregates can meet them. It is therefore proposed to impose restrictions and conditions on the use as part of possible future EoW criteria for waste-derived aggregates, and a step-wise methodology for development of more realistic leaching limit values for EoW is outlined. The methodology incorporates the mitigating effects of various measures that reduce the potential environmental impact of construction applications with waste-derived aggregates. Recommendations are also made of the practical testing and documentation procedures for aggregates with EoW status within the framework of the CPR.