Catton Recycling

There is growing pressure on producers and consumers, to move towards a more sustainable resourcing of construction aggregates.  Reducing their consumption of primary aggregates, through switching to recycled or secondary aggregates.

Approximately 275 million tonnes of aggregates are used each year in the UK as raw construction materials.  Of this supply, around 70 million tonnes are already derived from recycled or secondary sources.  The UK is a leading user of these materials in Europe and can be proud of the fact that 25% of UK aggregate demand, is met with these more sustainable resources. 

Recycled Aggregates can be sourced from a variety of material arising from construction and demolition (i.e. concrete, bricks, tiles), highway maintenance (asphalt planings), excavation and utility operations.  They can be purchased from demolition sites or from suitably equipped processing centres.

Recycled Aggregates are derived from reprocessing materials, previously used in construction.  Examples include recycled concrete from construction and demolition waste material (C&DW) also railway ballast.

There is scope for the use of recycled and reclaimed aggregates to be expanded further.  Potential for obtaining additional supplies already exists within those construction, demolition and excavation wastes that are not currently being recycled and are sent to landfill. Over the coming years, these materials could increase the proportion of aggregate demand met with recycled and secondary aggregates, to 30%

The quality of the recycled aggregate is firstly  dependent on the quality of the materials that are processed, the selection and separation processing used, and the degree of final processing that these materials undergo. 

​

Purchasing from a supplier who conforms to relevant industry protocols (such as WRAP) can provide reassurance for the purchaser.