Aggregates recycling on the increase
Production continues to rise and now accounts for 20% of overall UK market, say BDS Marketing
ACCORDING to BDS Marketing Research Ltd, around 45 million tonnes of aggregates were recycled at processing plants in 2015, representing an estimated 20% of the total aggregates market in the UK.
These conclusions form part of the ‘BDS Directory of Aggregates Recycling Plants’, which lists all known operations in the country. The consultancy has identified around 650 processing plants (operated by 460 companies) and picked up a number of major planning consents for new sites which are expected to bring on stream the capacity to handle a further 2 million tonnes a year.
Commenting on some of the findings of the report, BDS director Andy Sales said: ‘Tarmac is the largest recycled aggregates company in the country. However, this is primarily a local market and no business has more than a 5% national share. Some of the aggregates recycling plants now produce more than 300,000 tonnes a year. This sort of volume is higher than many sand and gravel pits.’
He added: ‘Most construction and demolition waste will be reused at building sites. Where this is not possible, most waste will then be sent to a recycling plant. Limited volumes are now sent to landfill.’
