Consultation begins on a draft revision of the Aggregate Quality Protocol
The Aggregate QP has undergone a review to assess its benefits to both industry and the environment and to ensure it is up-to-date with changes in standards and waste regulations.
The QP was originally published in 2004 and deals with the production of aggregates from inert construction, demolition and excavation waste (CDEW). As part of this review process documentation, including a financial impact assessment (FIA) and environmental risk assessment, are available as part of the consultation.
The FIA forms part of a five year review of the aggregate QP and seeks to quantify the costs and benefits to producers and users of recycled aggregates if the aggregate QP were maintained, and if it were removed. It found the following:
• Significant benefits for industry through increased sales revenue. The net benefit is estimated to exceed £3 billion by 2020.
• An estimated reduction of 1.9 million tonnes of waste sent to landfill by using recycled QP compliant aggregates. A corresponding saving to industry in the region of £1 billion through the avoidance of disposal fees and landfill tax.
• A reduction in the use of virgin aggregates.
Mervyn Jones, Head of Production & Procurement WRAP said, “It’s clear from our review that the aggregate QP has helped to support the market for the processing and use of recycled aggregates. Since its launch we’ve had nearly 38,000 downloads of the aggregate QP documentation.
“This QP process outlines how to produce QP compliant aggregates eliminating the ‘waste’ stigma and the associated regulatory costs. The QP review is an important process and we welcome feedback on the draft update.”
The current QP defines the point at which recycled aggregates are classified as a quality assured product and no longer deemed a ‘waste’. It removes the restriction imposed by waste management legislation. It provides a uniform control process for producers from which they can demonstrate that their product has been fully recovered according to QP guidelines. It provides purchasers with a quality-managed product manufactured to common standards increasing confidence. The QP provides a clear audit trail to ensure compliance with waste management legislation.
Martin Brocklehurst, Head of Environment and Business Partnerships at the Environment Agency, said “The Aggregate QP demonstrates the real value of improving the quality of recycled products and the benefits that this approach brings to both the environment and to industry. The QP is delivering environmental benefits through the reduction of waste disposed of to landfill and by minimising the amount of virgin materials used, as well as associated reductions in carbon emissions.”
Comments on the review are invited between 22 March and 3 May 2011 via http://qp.dialoguebydesign.net/
