The UK Washed Aggregates Trade Association (WATA) held a drop-in session for MPs at the Houses of Parliament on November 25th to raise the sector’s profile.
The event asked MPs to pledge their support for a sector that diverts nearly 1 million tonnes of waste from landfill every year.
WATA says the purpose of the event was to highlight the growing washed aggregates sector, which washes and recycles used aggregates such as soil, sand and gravel, providing sustainable alternatives to virgin aggregates.
The association states that every tonne of recovered washed aggregate produced in the UK reduces carbon emissions, supports the circular economy, and preserves finite natural resources.
The sector directly supports the UK’s Net Zero by 2050 commitment and the wider Resource and Waste Strategy.
Andy Hill, CEO of WATA, said: “Washed and recycled aggregates are a critical part of the UK’s circular economy. WATA is a relatively new trade body, and we are keen to get MPs and the Government on board to learn about how our sector can help the UK to reach its net zero goals.”
WATA says the UK leads Europe in the use of recycled aggregates, accounting for 30% of the market, but it’s still an under-represented part of the building industry, with washed recycled aggregates as part of that.
The association estimates that 20.5 million tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation waste are washed and recycled annually, producing around 8-9 million tonnes each of cleaned and sized sand and 2-4 million tonnes of fine mineral material.
“We would like to see a minimum requirement of 35% of washed recycled aggregates to be used in all publicly-funded infrastructure projects. This would reduce reliance on primary extraction, cut carbon emissions and demonstrate the Government’s commitment to building a circular economy in practice, not just policy,” Hill added.
