Quarrying and Reserves - Environmental aspects

Extraction and restoration

The clay brick and tile industry produces a wide range of products from a diverse range of natural resources. In order to maintain and enhance the quality of life for future generations we will:

• Conserve natural resources as far as possible ensuring that only that which is necessary is used to meet the demand;
   
• Minimise environmental impact of mineral operations and transport;
   
• Minimise waste and encourage efficient use of materials;
   
• Enhance environmental quality around clay pits once extraction has ceased;
   
• Protect areas of designated landscape or nature conservation from mineral development.

The extraction of clay for construction products is a small percentage of the total mineral extraction, typically about 5%. If deposits lie deep, land usages rates are modest, whilst in delta areas extraction is managed with minimal disruption.

Clay brick and tile manufacturing plants are frequently situated alongside clay deposits or sand quarries thereby minimising the energy expended in transporting material to the factory.
Clay brick and tile companies have adopted voluntary codes of practice covering all aspects of extraction and restoration. Such good practices cover site appearance, prevention of pollution, reduction of ecological impact, restoration and aftercare.

Although the extraction of clays and sands has an environmental impact, it also has potential benefits, such as the creation of nature reserves, amenity lakes and the formation of repositories for various forms of waste. This is particularly useful as the impervious nature of exhausted clay pits provides an acceptable means of waste disposal.

Gas produced from landfill can be used in nearby clay brick and tile production plants or elsewhere, thereby reducing the reliance on non-renewable energy sources.
Restored land over exhausted clay pits can provide useful social amenities or be converted to agriculture or forestry use.

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