30 August 2007

By-Product Status Confirmed for Blast Furnace Slag

The QPA has this week welcomed news from the Environment Agency that it is now satisfied that Blast Furnace Slag (BFS) is a by-product, rather than a waste. The EA's regulatory position statement arrives on the back of a lengthy and concentrated lobby from the QPA and the industry to ensure that some 3mt of this important resource is maintained for national construction needs. The industry's position on BFS was also supported by the European Commission's recently published guidance using BFS as an example of a by-product.

Air cooled blast furnace slag is used as a construction aggregate and ground granulated blast furnace slag (ggbs) is used as a cement replacement. It is well recognised that using ggbs as a cement replacement is beneficial in improving concrete's durability and reducing its carbon footprint.

The by-product classification of blast furnace slag has come about following a consultation held with the industry sitting as the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) as part of the EA's Quality Protocols review procedure. The TAG consulted extensively for a technical report produced jointly by WRAP and the EA on BFS, with the latter commenting that "[industry had] contributed greatly to…this decision, and has believed for some time that BFS is a by-product not a waste."

Further to the EA's ruling on blast furnace slag, the industry is now awaiting a regulatory decision on steel slag, which is due in the coming months. Encouraged by the ruling on BFS, the industry is hopeful that a similar approach will be taken. Steel slag is used extensively in highway surfacings.

Commenting on the EA's decision this week, the QPA's Director of Aggregates Brian James said: "this is clearly good news for blast furnace slag and its construction customers who have recognised the value of this longstanding sustainable resource. This is the right decision from the EA and one that safeguards the future of an important material. It is an approach that we are optimistic about being adopted for steel slag."

Access the EA's technical report and regulatory position statement on Blast Furnace Slag here.

ENDS


QPA Contact: Tim Parry - 020 7963 8014.

More information and technical background:

Aggregate supply from BFS - Howard Robinson at Tarmac on 01902 353522.

GGBS supply and use - Denis Higgins of the Cementitious Slag Makers Association on 01708 864813.

More information on steel slag supply and use, contact Howard Robinson at Tarmac on 01902 353522 or Multiserv's Nick Jones on 01709 536800.