We have analysed our main activities throughout the Company
and have determined the significant environmental effects. The
significant effects have been determined using a scoring
system. From this assessment it has been determined that
the most significant effects are:
All
of these effects are regulated by the Pollution Prevention
and Control (PPC) Permits issues by the relevant Local Authorities
and are managed by tailored Environmental Management Systems
at each of the sites.
Noise
External to our Works
External to our factories we are extremely conscious that
our activities, especially from the extraction, stockpiling
and use of our clay do not have a significant impact on our
neighbours. Generally we do mitigate these activities in the
following way. Our clay extraction contractors are issued
with operating instructions which have been previously agreed
with them. Operation of machinery behind clay landforms wherever
possible. Clay extraction machinery is kept well maintained.
In areas where the location of our operations are in close
proximity to our neighbours, removing reversing alarms from
our clay extraction equipment and fitting other methods of
ensuring safe reversing operations. Liaison with our neighbours
when we are going to carry out operations, limiting hours
of operation. Having formal liaison groups where necessary
to ensure that regulators and neighbours are fully informed.
We acknowledge that from time to time problems do occur. As
we offer an "open house " policy for any member
of our stakeholders to visit and view our operations we like
to be contacted as soon as possible either by the person directly
or by our local authority.
Internal to the Works
Health and safety laws, more specifically the Noise at Work
Regulations, cover noise internally. These regulations limit
personal exposure. Those personnel who work in the areas where
the noise exceeds the prescribed limits are supplied with
personal hearing protectors. If you are a visitor to a particular
site you will also be asked to wear suitable hearing protection
wherever necessary.
back to top 
Dust
Whilst dust is regarded as a significant Company issue it
is managed in a series of tried and tested ways.
External to our Works
Whilst clay is being extracted a water bowser is present on
site in order to damp down the fine particles that are generated
by the action of large vehicles passing over the ground. We
also have a water bowser to damp the surface when our front
loader vehicles transport clay to start the brick production
process.
Internal to the Works
Dust is mitigated at key areas around the factories with the
use of dust extractors.The majority of these recycle the dust
back into the clay production process. Dust is also managed
by our factory personnel using vacuums to clean the dust that
builds up around the machinery. water dust suppression systems
are also used to control dust in clay preperation areas.
back to top
Visual
Impact
We are aware that all of our factories are within Green Belt
designations and consequently there is little we can do to
fully mitigate the visual intrusiveness of a factory unit.
However, we do use hard and soft landscaping wherever necessary.
In terms of our quarrying operations we strive to reduce their
visual impact by tree and shrub planting. We also endeavour
to place landforms in the visual envelope of our neighbours
properties in order to mitigate the visual effects of our
operations. Future sites have been designed to place soil
around the outside of our quarries and for these to be planted
. We are aware that our quarries, whatever lengths we take
to reduce the visual impact, are always a major presence on
the landscape for a relatively long period of time. There
are long-term restoration strategies in place to return the
land back to beneficial use. At our Waresley and Himley quarries
the restoration has begun using controlled waste. This
is also planned in the future for the quarries at Hartlebury
and Kingsbury.
back to top
Efects
On The Enviroment & Ecosystmes
We are aware that our operations do affect the environment
and ecosystems. Most of our planning consents that we have
obtained recently have been subject to environmental impact
assessments. In most cases these have looked at the environmental
effects of the proposed development. For example, in the most
recent environmental statements that accompanied a planning
applications for a proposed developments the following were
determined as important and needed addressing:
- Geology
- Hydrology
& Hydrogeology
- Soil
resources
- Acoustic
Analysis
- Dust
- Visual
analysis
- Highways
and Traffic
- Ecology
and restoration
- Cultural
Heritage
It was only after analysis of the above and mitigation measures
proposed that the developments were granted. One of our major
impacts is the restoration of exhausted clay quarries by landfill.
This has positive impacts by restoring the land to a beneficial
use, producing a safe receptor for putrescible waste because
of the hydrogeological conditions, and by the generation of
electricity from landfill gas.
In
2004 a generation plant was installed at the waresley site
which uses landfill gas to generate 1.6 megawatts of electricity.
This provides approximately 80% of the power requirement at
the Waresley works and also allows export of some electricity
to the national grid during periods when the power requirement
at the factory is reduced. This site currently generates
approximately 9.5 million KWH per annum.
The
negative impacts of landfill are managed by entering into
long-term agreements with responsible waste management companies
who have the technical expertise and financial resources to
manage the sites until they are harmless under the terms of
relative Environmental regulations.
The realigned brook and wetland at Himley.
At our Oak Farm quarry a wet land was created in order to manage
an area which was previously unkempt. The wetland was designed
to provide a large area of primarily slow moving water where
vegetation could be planted to enhance the surroundings. At
the design stage a particular challenge was to slow the water
of the brook leading to the wetland. A riffle bed at the point
the brook meets with the main body of the wetland provided the
answer. The brook itself was realigned and improved to enable
the sides of the brook to be profiled so that they were friendly
to water rodents and allow easy access and egress from the water.
The newt pond being planted at Kingsbury.
|
|
|
One of the biggest operations we have undertaken is the translocation
of a great crested newt colony. The newts were located in the
middle of our Kingsbury quarry in a former low point on the
site. In order to carry on our quarrying operations we made
the decision to try and establish the newts at an alternative
location out of the way of our future quarrying operations.
We have subsequently employed a licensed newt specialist who
has advised us on the formation of new newt ponds. The formation
has included planting the ponds with species that the newts
will be able to live and lay their eggs on.
The old newt pond has been fenced with plastic fencing in order
to stop the newts returning to their hibernation habitats. Humane
traps have been installed so that the newts can be transported
to their new pond.
Turning to the effect on the environment caused by the manufacture
of our clay products, we made a positive contribution back in
the 1980s by fitting exhaust cleaning equipment at our Waresley
and Hartlebury works. In 1999 we fitted a further "scrubbing
"unit at our Kingsbury plant.
back to top
Production
Of Solid Waste
The majority of solid waste is produced in the form of scrap
bricks.
At some of our sites we crush our reject bricks and feed them
back into the mix. At the others the bricks are sold in the
form of hardcore or used on site for roads and pathways.
Unfired clay waste created within the works is minimised and
recycled within the process of clay product manufacture.
At our Head Office we recycle:
Our reject paper is collected and the pulped paper is sent for
use in recycled tissue products. Toner cartridges are recycled
and are offered back to us at an advantageous price.
Certain hazardous wastes are also generated at our factories.
Principally these are :
- Degreasing
cleaners
- Used
oils
- Oily
waste eg rags and batteries
- Florescent
tubes
We use limestone granules to scrub our kiln exhausts. The
exhaust is passed through the limestone and the fluorides
are absorbed into the outer surface of the limestone granules.
The granules are then "peeled "so that we can reuse the granules
again and again until the limestone granules are so small
that they fall into a bag beneath the equipment. This residue
is then taken by approved contractors to a landfill site capable
of taking this waste. Used oils are collected at each of our
sites and are sent for recycling as are tubes..
back to top
Emissions
to Air and Water
Our emissions to atmosphere from the firing of the clay products
are probably our most significant environmental effect. Our
factories operate in accordance with Pollution Prevention
and Control Act and associated regulations. In particular
our sites operate under PPC Part A2 Permits granted by the
Local Authorities. Waresley, Hartlebury and Kingsbury are
all fitted with exhaust purification equipment that scrubs
the fluorides out of the kiln exhausts. Kilns at our other
works are smaller than the above and do not require exhaust
purification.
Emissions
to water are not normally a significant effect for the brick
manufacturing process. Water added during the brick
forming process is generally evaporated as part of the drying
process. Where mould washing is required as part of
the forming process this is carried out using a closed circit
with settlement lagoons.
Water
accumulating in clay quarries is discharged to adjacent water
courses under the terms of discharge consents granted by the
Environment Agency. These discharges are regularly monitored
to ensure that the water quality meets the required standards.
back to top
Energy
As a major user of both gas and electricity we employ a dedicated
Energy Manager, who liaises with each of the works on energy
management issues, to minimise our energy use. Energy recycling
is inherent within clay product manufacture. Excess heat from
the kilns is recirculated into the dryers, which provides
a way of minimising the "raw "heat needed in the
drying of a clay product. The
company operates under a Climate Change Agreement with UK
Government which requires targeted reductions in energy consumption
over the period 2000 to 2010. The Company is also subject
to control of CO2 emmisions under the requirements of the
European Union Emmisions Trading Scheme and is committed to
continual reduction of CO2 emissions.
Electricity is monitored on a factory wide basis around the
Company. Apart
from gas and electricity the other significant fuels consumed
are petrol and diesel. Diesel is used to power our forklift
trucks and our front-end loader excavators. The vehicles that
transport our clay products to customers are generally diesel
powered. We contract vehicles so that the skill and expertise
of transport logistical firms can be used. Use of contract
vehicles offers a more effective use of fuel resources and
avoids unnecessary vehicle usage. Our Company cars are predominantly
powered by petrol. All vehicles are regularly serviced and
maintained.
back to top
Use Of Land
Our use of land is long term both in terms of quarrying and
factory life. Land is core drilled prior to excavation. This
means that planning consent is only applied for and subsequently
granted on land that contains the desired quality of clay
and associated minerals. Prior to and whilst the land is being
used for quarrying, it is let to a farmer in the locality
of the site for either agricultural production or set aside.
When the land has been depleted of its resource our aim is
to restore the land in the most efficient way, by landfill
or to a water body as appropriate.
At the majority of our works the clay is quarried using a
terracing system.The clay is then brought to the site and
formed into a layered stockpile.Generally, sufficient clay
and associated materials are brought up from the quarry to
last a year. A clay winning campaign in the summer months
(for approximately 6 to 8 weeks) using contractors also allows
the efficient use of resources and use of the most up to date
machinery.
This means:
- Efficient
clay winning campaign
- Use
of up to date machinery
- Machinery
that is regularly serviced and maintained
- Professional
staff and drivers
- Minimisation
of environmental effects
back
to top
|
