Materials Facts
Over 400 million tonnes of materials are used in construction in England and Wales each year and at least 109 million tonnes becomes waste. (defra.gov.uk/)
10% re-used and recycled content by value is commonly being set for new buildings.
The total consumption of all materials in the UK amounts to 678 million tonnes per year, this equates to 11.3 tonnes per person. Of this figure 420 million tonnes are used in construction every year, or 7 tonnes per person. (greenspec.co.uk)
The production and transportation of construction materials are estimated to use 6% of UK energy. Cement manufacture accounts for around 2% of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions. (sitelines.co.uk)
In February 2008 the government confirmed that from May 2008 it would be mandatory for all new homes to have a rating against the Sustainable Homes Code. The aim is to encourage the use of materials with lower environmental impacts. Currently only about 1% of new builds use recycled or reused materials. (breeam.org)
The largest component of construction minerals are aggregates, principally crushed rock (limestone, igneous rock and sandstone) and sand and gravel. Other minerals used in construction are clay, chalk and limestone for cement making, brick clay, gypsum, slate and building stone.
Aggregates make up over 50% of construction materials, some 240 million tonnes per year. From April 2008 the aggregates levy increased from £1.60 to £1.95 per tonne. (greenspec.co.uk)
An estimated 532,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste was generated in Hertfordshire in 2003/04. (Waste Core Strategy Submission, January 2008)
The UK construction industry is responsible for one third of landfill waste.(letsrecycle.com)
Recycled and secondary aggregates supply over 25% of the UK’s requirement. (mineralsuk.com)
The Olympic Delivery Authority has pledged to recover, reuse or recycle 90% of construction waste on the 2012 Olympic site. (contractjournal.com)
From April 2008, a construction project in England worth more than £300,000 must have a Site Management Plan. (netregs.gov.uk)
The Strategy for Sustainable Construction, June 2008, set a target of a 50% reduction of construction, demolition and excavation waste by 2012, compared to 2008. (berr.gov.uk)