Recycled concrete aggregates in the circular economy: technological, environmental, and regulatory perspectives from Poland and Europe

Abstract

The construction sector is a major contributor to resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, requiring sustainable and circular material management. Recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) from construction and demolition waste are a key element of this transition. This study examines the development of the RCA market in Poland within EU circular economy policy, focusing on technology, regulation, and implementation barriers. A qualitative approach based on literature, regulatory analysis, and case studies was applied. The scope includes recycling technologies, RCA properties, water recovery systems, and a comparison of selected European countries. Results indicate that multi-stage processing enables high-quality RCA+ with properties comparable to natural aggregates. Up to 30% RCA does not significantly affect compressive strength, workability, or carbonation resistance. Pressure filtration systems allow water reuse without performance loss, while fine fraction utilization remains challenging. Despite progress, adoption in Poland is limited by variability, weak standardization, economic constraints, and low acceptance in structural applications. More advanced EU countries achieve higher recycling rates due to stronger regulatory and policy instruments. The study concludes that RCA supports decarbonization and resource efficiency in construction, but broader implementation requires technological improvement, regulatory alignment, and better-quality assurance. Future research should include Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for environmental and economic evaluation.