International Review of Waste Management Policy - Department of ...

47.0 Product Standards for Aggregates -
International
47.1 Outline of Policy
Product standards ensure that recycled materials meet minimum quality
requirements. For aggregates these requirements are in relation to environmental
and engineering safety standards. The introduction of product standards increases
confidence in secondary materials through certification of the recycled product. It is
more common for non-legislative standards to have been introduced. However,
several examples are given where standards have been mandated at either a
national or regional level.
47.2 Where Has the Policy Been Applied and Why?
In 1998 Mandate 125 introduced European standards for aggregates related to their
end-uses, under the Construction Products Directive (89/106/EEC). This meant that
aggregate types were assigned a standard reference.
Following this European Standards for Aggregates were introduced in 2004. They
include a grading classification system and categories which are used to describe
performance. They are applicable to natural, recycled and manufactured aggregate.
The system involves use of a CE marking system, which is an easily recognisable
symbol of quality. Although this legislation is in place and is valid across all EU
countries, it is not mandatory is most countries. However, voluntary use of the system
could be beneficial to secondary aggregate markets. 810
The following countries have mandated standards for aggregate using the European
Standards for Aggregates framework, and the CE marking:
667
� Austria;
� Belgium (Wallonia);
� Czech Republic;
� France;
� Italy;
� The Netherlands;
� Poland;
� Slovakia; and
810 WRAP (2004) European Standards for Aggregates, Accessed 21 st January 2009,
http://www.aggregain.org.uk/quality/aggregates_standards/european.html
International Review of Waste Policy: Annexes