The Basque Government has issued a new decree on incineration slag, positioning Euskadi at the forefront of material valorization. This new regulation will prevent 36,000 tons of waste from being sent to landfills each year and will promote their use as resources. It is an advanced regulation, aligned with Europe's most demanding practices, reinforcing the commitment to a circular economy.
Until now, this waste ended up in landfills. With the entry into force of this decree, the slag resulting from incineration can be utilized as construction material. It will cease to be considered waste provided it meets strict technical and environmental conditions, passing the controls, analyses, and authorized uses defined within the decree itself.
The decree's benefits are clear: a reduction in the volume of waste sent to landfills, less extraction of natural resources, material utilization, and a contribution to European recycling targets. Experience from other countries and conducted studies demonstrate that reusing slag from the incineration of domestic and commercial waste is safe and environmentally beneficial.
The reuse of this slag will directly contribute to improving waste management in Euskadi, potentially increasing recycling and valorization levels by 2 to 4 percentage points in the coming years. This will facilitate compliance with European objectives and reduce reliance on landfills. This measure aligns Euskadi with the most advanced European countries in waste management, where the safe valorization of slag is already a consolidated practice.
“"We are moving from burying waste to turning it into useful resources, significantly reducing landfilling. Each year, 36,000 tons of waste will no longer go to landfill. This will reduce landfill occupancy and extend their lifespan. It represents a clear step forward towards the goal of zero landfill in Euskadi."
Promoting a more advanced and sustainable model, the decree establishes a specific process for incineration slag to be reused under safe conditions. Firstly, a treatment and control process will be required, including metal separation, crushing, maturation, and classification, with mandatory environmental and quality controls. Secondly, a safety verification will be carried out, ensuring the slag meets strict environmental limits through analyses, traceability, and continuous monitoring. This will allow it to be given a new use as secondary aggregates in applications such as roads, construction, fills, or concrete, substituting natural materials.
