The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published national byproduct criteria for site-won asphalt (road planings) from road developments.

These criteria allow for the classification of road planings as a byproduct, meaning it is not waste. The byproduct can subsequently be used or placed on the market in the same way as virgin material. These criteria support waste prevention and facilitate the reuse of materials in new construction projects, in line with the circular economy. 

There is a strong demand for secondary construction products in Ireland to support development of new infrastructure with a low carbon footprint. The criteria allow used asphalt to be remanufactured into new bituminous products for road building.

'Important step for the ‘greening’ of Ireland’s construction industry'

David Flynn, director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Sustainability, said: “The publication of national byproduct criteria for site-won asphalt is an important step for the ‘greening’ of Ireland’s construction industry.

"The criteria will support waste prevention and circular economy ambitions, by tackling the generation of construction waste, the largest waste stream in the country, while encouraging the reuse of materials.

"This is the type of progress needed if Ireland is to move in a meaningful way from the linear to the circular economy.”

The criteria provide a simple way to assess materials for reuse, and will support green procurement ambitions for road development projects.

Streamlining the regulation

Warren Phelan, programme manager of the EPA’s Circular Economy Programme noted: “The publication of the national criteria show the EPA’s commitment to streamlining the regulation to support secondary products.

"The shift away from the assessment of case-by-case applications to national criteria, which is available to all producers, offers more regulatory certainty to the stakeholders involved. These criteria will introduce a level playing field for industry and introduce a single set of rules that are easy to implement.”

The EPA calls on relevant stakeholders in the construction sector to adopt and implement the new criteria.

Further information on the national byproduct criteria and other initiatives of the circular economy programme are available on the EPA website.