The Basque Government today issued a new Decree on incineration slag, marking a step forward for the Basque Country towards efficient use of materials. This regulation will prevent 36,000 tonnes of incineration slag from being sent to landfill each year and will facilitate its use as a resource. This is an advanced regulation, aligned with the most demanding practices in Europe, which reinforces the commitment to a circular economy.

The Basque Government has approved a decree in line with the most advanced countries in Europe that will allow the reuse of incineration slag 

To date, this type of waste has ended up in landfills. With the coming into force of this Decree, the waste remaining after incineration (slag) can be used as building materials. It will no longer be considered waste provided that strict environmental and technical conditions are met (controls, analyses and authorised uses as set out in the Decree). 

The benefits of the Decree are clear: reduction in the volume of waste sent to landfill, reduced extraction of natural resources, efficient use of materials, and a contribution to the European recycling targets.

Studies and experience in other countries in which this measure is already in place reveal that the reuse of slag from the incineration of household and commercial waste is safe and environmentally friendly.

Reuse of this slag will directly help to improve waste management in the Basque Country and could increase recycling and recovery levels by between 2 and 4 points over the coming years. This will facilitate compliance with European targets and reduce the need for landfill.

This Decree brings the Basque Country in line with the most advanced European countries in waste management, where the safe recovery of slag is already a consolidated practice. The new regulation introduces environmental controls and technical criteria comparable to European standards, reinforcing the safety and traceability of materials.

This measure places the Basque Country as one of the most advanced European regions in circular waste management

According to Josu Bilbao, the Basque Government’s Deputy Minister for the Environment, “we will stop burying waste to turn it into useful resources and significantly reduce landfill. 36,000 tonnes of waste a year will no longer end up in landfill. This will reduce landfill occupancy and extend the life of landfills. It is a clear step towards the goal of zero landfill in the Basque Country”.

A more advanced and sustainable model

The reduction of landfill is not automatic: it is achieved through a specific process introduced by the Decree so that incineration slag can be reused safely. To do so, the Decree sets out a clear process with guarantees. 

First of all, this slag needs to go through a process of treatment and control, including metal separation, crushing, maturation and classification, with mandatory environmental and quality controls.

Josu Bilbao, the Basque Government’s Deputy Minister for the Environment: “We are moving from burying waste to using it as a useful resource, thereby reducing the environmental impact of our rubbish”

Secondly, a safety check will be carried out. Slag can only be used if it complies with strict environmental limits, for which it will have to undergo analysis, traceability and continuous controls, ensuring that it does not generate risks for the environment and health. 

In this way, it can be given a new use as a material. In other words, once treated, the slag can be used as secondary aggregates for works, such as roads, construction, backfill or concrete, thus replacing natural materials. As a result, it will no longer end up in landfill as it will be used as materials, which will contribute to the reduction of landfill waste.

With this Decree, the Basque Country will reduce its dependence on landfill and will become one of the most advanced European regions in waste management.