Landmark project helps tackle the UK’s largest industrial waste stream
04 October 2010
The Financial Impact Assessments of introducing the QP forecasts a potential benefit to the UK economy at approximately £110 million over the first ten years. The environment will also benefit from the new PFA / FBA QP, with an estimated 3,128,000 tonnes of waste potentially diverted from landfill. The increased use of alternative recycled material produced in accordance with the new QP will also save an estimated 4,410,000 tonnes of virgin material from being excavated. The total carbon savings are estimated to be in the region of 162,000 tonnes over the first decade.
The publication of the QP follows a rigorous Risk Assessment which included public consultation in the UK and Europe, together with a detailed Financial Impact Assessment.
David Porter, Chief Executive of the Association of Electricity Producers said,
“We hope that this new Quality Protocol will have real benefits for the power industry in terms of reducing the expense of dealing with a by-product that is currently regulated as a waste material, and also opening up new markets for PFA. After four years’ hard work, we are delighted to see this QP launching.”
Martin Brocklehurst, Head of Environment and Business Partnerships, EA said
“We are delighted to have worked with DEFRA, WRAP and the power industry to agree an end of waste position for pulverised fuel ash. This is a classic example of better risk-based regulation in action. Our regulatory decision is based on real scientific evidence that indicates this material can be safely used as a product. The quality protocol standard ensures that both human health and the environment are safeguarded and that this valuable material can be reprocessed into a quality product which can be reused, rather than buried in landfill.”
Half of all the PFA produced in the UK is sold to end markets, whilst the remainder is sent to expensive monofill storage sites. As PFA and FBA are currently defined as ‘wastes’ under the EU Waste Framework Directive (2006/12/EC), end users must conform to waste management regulations and purchase special permits to use these materials in construction and manufacturing. This will no longer be the case for PFA produced to Quality Protocol Standards.
Dr. Mervyn Jones, Head of Production & Procurement, WRAP stated
“Conforming to the new Quality Protocol removes the waste stigma associated with PFA and FBA. It enables better regulation, ensures consistent quality and will stimulate market confidence. These factors will all help the industry grow existing markets for this quality recycled material.”
The total market value for PFA in the year 2006 was £60 million. The new QP offers significant market opportunities in the UK for both producers of this material, and for the construction and manufacturing industries which are the principle end users.
- PFA is the preferred material for grouting applications as it has a natural lightweight quality, is easy to handle and provides good strength. Virgin substitutes such as sand do not bind as well as PFA, and could cost double the price. Approximately 730,000 tonnes were used for this purpose in 2006.
- PFA is also a partial alternative to Portland cement, either as a minor additional constituent or as a component in blended cement. It is estimated that 600,000 tonnes of PFA are currently used in the production of cement, with the potential to increase this to upward of 1,573,000 tonnes per annum.
- PFA can also be used as part of the cement component in concrete and is also important for the manufacture of concrete ‘breeze’ blocks, which contain up to 80 percent of the material.
