Promoting recycled aggregates
In July 2008 United Utilities held a workshop with the Highways Authorities in the North West to promote the use of recycled aggregates for the reinstatement of excavations. The workshop enabled us to share our experiences from our gas network operations in the north of England.
Over the last few years we have been making great progress on recycling excavated material from our network operations. However, when it came to filling in the holes we only managed to use approximately 30% of recycled material. The remainder is currently freshly quarried virgin aggregate which creates a significant impact on the local environment. As well as gaining the support of the Highways Authorities it is critical that we engage both our material suppliers and contract partners in driving these environmental issues forward. Our network partners are now fully engaged and are using recycled aggregates.
The event was attended by over 40 representatives from local authorities as well as United Utilities contractors who use aggregates on a daily basis. Following a keynote presentation from our Energy & Contracting Services Managing Director - the event consisted of presentations from United Utilities’ Head of Environment and Sustainability, the national waste organisation WRAP (Waste and Resource Action Programme) and our network partners and suppliers.
The workshop also included a practical exercise involving three bags of different recycled aggregates and one bag of the freshly quarried alternative, so attendees could see the products close up and inspect them for technical aspects of appearance and quality.
Our Energy & Contracting Services business set a target to increase their use of recycled aggregate to 60% by the end of the 2008/09. As some parts of the business were not using any at the start of the year, it is a great achievement to beat the target and use 69% recycled aggregates in 2008/09
Return to list