Natural environment

Performance indicators

• Sites with certified environmental management system (EMS): 778. Proportion of locations covered by EMS: 70%
• Number of convictions for pollution and planning infringements for locations surveyed: 0
• Tonnage of quarry waste going to landfill as a proportion of production tonnage: 0.32%

Current position

QPA members have a good record in terms of compliance with regulations, particularly when considering the often unpredictable nature of the operating environment. Quarry processes are very different to those found in a typical manufacturing environment and are more challenging to control. However, our record demonstrates that we manage our compliance professionally. We are also one of the most regulated industries relative to the impacts created.

In order to manage this tough regulatory regime and operate successfully in the natural environment, many of our members have implemented certified environmental management systems and some have had these assessed for compliance to ISO 14001. During 2004, 778 sites were reported with certified environmental management systems. Based on the 1,119 site locations covered by this sustainability report, 70 per cent of sites were therefore operating with certified environmental management systems.

Our current waste measurement reflects waste disposed of to licensed landfills as we know how much material is sent for final disposal. Other resource streams are sometimes not beneficially used, sometimes stockpiled and sometimes sold directly, making the reporting of performance in this area very challenging. As with all other issues in the report, we are keen to hear from stakeholders who can offer improved indicators in this area.

Aspirations

We encourage our members to implement high standards of environmental management, including achieving certification to external standards. We believe this in turn will lead to the preservation of our positive compliance record. We are striving to understand and reduce our environmental footprint by reducing waste disposal and finding new uses for previously discarded material.