Welsh consultation over aggregates fund

The aggregates levy is being introduced in April and money raised will lead to the creation of a fund which will address the environmental impact of quarrying and will encourage the use of recycled materials by shifting demand away from virgin aggregates.

Launching a consultation document on the fund, Ms Essex said: “The introduction of the Sustainability Fund provides us with a very exciting opportunity to address issues and priorities specific to the environment of Wales. I expect to see work undertaken and the funds distributed throughout Wales, but especially in the areas where there is significant aggregate extraction.”

The Fund will be a public expenditure scheme of 1.7million a year in Wales for the two years 2002/03 and 2003/04. This amount is guaranteed irrespective of the revenue from the levy. The fund will promote the use of alternative materials as Wales has a relatively poor performance in aggregates recycling or promoting the use of secondary materials and reducing the demand for primary aggregates. Projects might include examining how to overcome market barriers to the use of recycled aggregates and alternative materials, promoting their use and looking at sensible ways of reducing wastage. For example, slate production in north Wales produces 6 million tonnes of waste material annually and there is already 700 million tonnes of slate waste accumulated in Gwynedd, some of which has the potential to become a useful source as an alternative to primary aggregate.

In Wales the majority of arisings from construction and demolition waste is not currently being re-used or recycled as aggregates. Of the 3.3 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste and soil arising in Wales in 1999, less than 23% were recycled for aggregates use, with a further 13% re-used at licensed landfill sites mostly for site engineering works, the remainder is tipped at landfill and exempt sites.

The Welsh Assembly Government will consider piloting a scheme or schemes, which promote the efficiency of use either in terms of usage of material or in the very materials used in the construction industry. This may involve a ‘materials audit’ to identify the extent to which higher grade primary aggregates are used inappropriately. Comments on the fund are sought by April 12.