Local communication vital to quarry expansion

Almost three years ago permission was granted for a huge extension to an existing quarry in a rural area. It would produce 30million tonnes and secure the site's future for the next 50 years or so.

Soon after permission was given for the expansion, I visited the site to prepare a report for Aggregates Business Europe.

While I discussed all aspects of the site, the quarry manager (explaining the equipment and how the quarry operated) was equally interested in discussing its award-winning environmental approach to running the operation.

He pointed out that when the expansion application had been made, the company had spoken to residents of nearby small communities that could be affected. He had decided that in advance of any aggregate extraction from the new site, a huge earth bund, planted with flowers and shrubs, should be built to further screen the quarry for the benefit of the residents.

This kind of approach is now becoming increasingly common, so it is interesting to report on the strides that have been made over recent years by quarry operators towards the environment, biodiversity and sustainability - to everyone's benefit.

Recent, and extremely encouraging reports from major producers, show the efforts that are being made.

1343 Hanson UK, the largest building materials company in the UK, recently highlighted in its 2011 Performance and Sustainability Report its achievement in receiving the 3073 Carbon Trust Standard across all business lines. [This is awarded to organisations that have acted on climate change and are committed to ongoing reductions].

Indeed, Martin Crow, Hanson UK's head of sustainability, told ABE: "Over the next 12 months we plan to introduce longer term targets towards 2020 as part of our vision to achieve 'best in class' status." The company's performance highlights include a 53% drop in reportable and lost time injuries from 74 to 35 and a big fall in the lost time injury rate per million hours worked; a 10% cut in waste to landfill; a further 12 biodiversity and geodiversity action plans put in place, and all sites (329) certified to ISO 14001.

674 HeidelbergCement's fourth sustainability report says that in 2009 and 2010 the company accomplished continual improvements in the central pillars of its sustainability strategy including the promotion of biodiversity in quarries; reduction of CO2 emissions and the use of alternative fuels (it successfully increased the alternative fuels rate from 18.5% in 2008 to 20.5% in 2010). The goal for 2020 is to increase the rate to 30%.

Another industry-specific key issue is occupational health and safety where HeidelbergCement says it made good progress in reducing accident rates. This will remain a central topic of its sustainability strategy in the coming years.

Tarmac's 2010/11 sustainability report (its third) explains how since 2004 the company has reduced specific energy consumption by 15%; cut specific CO2 emissions by 11%; delivered a 92% reduction in waste sent to licensed disposal sites, and is now a net user of waste.

The company says it has also cut lots time injuries by 21% since 2009; has also been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in recognition of its carbon-cutting efforts, and has 100%of its products certified as 'Very Good' against BES 6001 Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products.

Dr Martyn Kenny, 868 Tarmac's director of sustainability, said: "Our new report highlights the progress that we're making against our commitments and demonstrates that sustainability is even more deeply embedded within our business strategy and culture." It is now apparent that such sentiments are also a part of the ongoing strategies of all the major producers, and ABE will be reporting on their efforts over the coming year.