WATA educates MPs at Washed Aggregates Event

WATA, the Washed Aggregates Trade Association, held a drop-in session for MPs at the Houses of Parliament yesterday (November 25th) to raise the profile of the sector.

The event asked MPs to pledge their support for a sector that diverts nearly 1 million tonnes of waste from landfill every year.

It was held to highlight the growing washed aggregates sector which washes and recycles used aggregates such as soil, sand and gravels, providing sustainable alternatives to virgin aggregates.

Every tonne of recovered washed aggregate produced in the UK:
- Reduces carbon emissions
- Supports the circular economy
- Preserves finite natural resources

The sector directly supports the UK’s Net Zero by 2050 commitment and the wider Resource and Waste Strategy.
Andy Hill, CEO of WATA, said: “Washed and recycled aggregates are a critical part of the UK’s circular economy. WATA is a relatively new trade body and we are keen to get MPs and Government onboard to learn about how our sector can help the UK to reach its net zero goals.”

The UK leads Europe in the use of recycled aggregates, with 30% of the market, but it’s still an under-represented part of the building industry, with washed recycled aggregates being a part of that. WATA estimates 20.5 million tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation waste is washed and recycled annually, producing:-

• Around 8-9 million tonnes each of cleaned and sized sand
• 2-4 million tonnes fine mineral material

“We would like to see a minimum requirement of 35% of washed recycled aggregates to be used in all publicly-funded infrastructure projects. This would reduce reliance on primary extraction, cut carbon emissions and demonstrate the Government’s commitment to building a circular economy in practice not just policy,” added Andy.