Proposed no-waste criteria for recycled aggregates raise concerns

(For customers) The EU is preparing common end-of-waste criteria for construction and demolition aggregates. The recycling industry and other European industry associations support the goal, but are concerned about the proposed thresholds, scope and whether the intended use of the material could affect its waste status. The criteria will determine when waste becomes a product The Joint Research Center (JRC), a research institute of the European Commission, is preparing EU-level end-of-waste (EEJ) criteria for construction and demolition aggregates. The European Commission aims to adopt legislation in 2027 that will determine when recycled aggregates cease to be waste and become products. The end-of-waste criteria are essential to make it easier to use recycled aggregates in redevelopment. Once the material is no longer waste, its use is not restricted by waste management regulations, which streamlines the market and reduces the administrative burden. Solubility values ​​and test methods share views In February 2026, six European organizations – Aggregates Europe, Concrete Europe, EAPA, FEAD, FIR and Recycling Europe – issued a joint response to the JRC proposal on solubility values ​​for recycled aggregates issued in November 2025. The organizations found the proposed limit values ​​and measurement methods to be problematic in part. According to the industry, the list of limit values ​​presented by the JRC is too extensive. Unnecessary measurement would increase costs and...