The aggregates industry

The quarrying of aggregates is a major UK industry with approximately 2,000 active mineral workings, which directly and indirectly support thousands of jobs.

The quarries are supported by marine dredging and an active recycling sector. The construction industry is reliant on quarrying. The UK's quarrying network helps to provide -

• new homes (each requiring an average of 60 tonnes of aggregates);
• school and university building improvements;
• hospital building;
• improvements to water services; and
• road and rail maintenance.

Every year nearly four tonnes of aggregates are needed per head of population in the UK. This means a typical family indirectly demands one lorry load of aggregates per year.

Aggregates are not just for construction, a vast array of other products, many of which are taken for granted, are manufactured using materials derived from quarrying. These include paper, glass, cosmetics and toothpaste to name but a few. Aggregates are also used in agriculture, food manufacture and water and sewage purification.

Six companies account for over 85% of the aggregate production in England and Wales. In addition there are over 100 small and medium sized companies. Many have a significant regional presence.

The industry takes its environmental impact seriously. More than 700 Sites of Special Scientific Interest have their origins in mineral operations.