Bilateral Visit between Navarra (ES) and Région Sud (FR)

As part of the INERTWASTE project, a bilateral visit among representatives from the region of Navarra (Spain), Région Sud (France) and ACR+ was held on 11 October in Marseille to exchange good practices related to Circular Economy (CE) and improving the valorisation on inert and inorganic waste. The visit focused on replicating successful initiatives from France in Spain, mainly regarding public procurement and the rehabilitation of degraded areas.

One key discussion during the meeting was the Six-Fours initiative in Région Sud, which integrates CE principles in public procurement within the construction sector. This project provides personalised legal and technical guidance to municipalities and key stakeholders on material reuse and other CE aspects in public works. Navarra expressed interest in replicating this model to support regional construction projects.

Another important topic was the rehabilitation of degraded spaces, where both regions exchanged insights on the use of inert waste for restoration projects. Région Sud shared their experience with a legislative framework that facilitates the use of waste and recycled materials in France.

Road milling waste and strategies to increase the material reuse were also explored. In France, 22% of milled material is reused in road construction, a model that Navarra found interesting given its lower reuse rates (5-10%).

Additionally, Région Sud gained valuable insights from Navarra's experiences and asked about Navarra's approach to participating in numerous European projects, which may contribute to enriching ongoing initiatives in both regions.

The participants in the visit agreed to exchange documents and technical guides related to these and other initiatives, for further study and potential application in Navarra. This collaboration strengthens ties between both regions and promotes sustainable practices in construction and waste management under the INERTWASTE project.