Construction sector in Scotland is grappling with a pressing need for circularity
Scotland is making strides in improving construction waste recycling, with the draft Integrated Authorisation Framework presenting an opportunity to standardize environmental authorizations and promote the use of recycled aggregates.
According to the Scottish Government's Aggregates and Minerals Survey in 2019, there are approximately 18 years of sand and gravel left in Scotland's quarries. With less than fifteen years' worth of sands and gravels left, Scott Brewster, Managing Director of Brewster Brothers, has highlighted this as a tipping point for Scotland.
Brewster Brothers, a Scottish firm specializing in reuse and recycling within the construction sector, has emphasized the need to focus on circular models. The speaker also stated that just 20% of aggregate demand in Scotland is currently met with recycled aggregates, which is a significant room for improvement.
The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) reports that in the UK as a whole, only 28% of aggregate demand is currently met with recycled aggregates. This underscores the potential for growth in Scotland's recycled aggregate industry.
Scotland's push towards circular models in the construction sector is backed by various initiatives. The Circular Economy Act provides a legislative framework encouraging a zero waste and circular economy transition, mandating actions to reduce waste generation and promote re-use, reprocessing, and recycling of materials, including construction waste.
The government also focuses on enhancing waste reprocessing infrastructure to increase recycling capabilities in multiple sectors, including construction. This supports the reuse of secondary materials such as recycled sands and aggregates, reducing demand for virgin materials.
Local schemes, such as the Scotland Excel procurement framework, enable the public sector to buy reused materials and products, indirectly encouraging circular practices in construction-related furnishings and infrastructure. Zero Waste Scotland funds networks like the Share & Repair Network that promote repair, reuse, and resource circulation, which can extend to construction components and materials.
Campaigns such as ACAN’s Circular Economy Policy Campaign encourage projects that incorporate circular, local, or bio-based materials, offering recognition and funding incentives, potentially stimulating market demand for recycled construction materials.
While direct references specifically to recycled sands and aggregates in Scottish construction waste recycling are limited in these results, the overarching policy and infrastructure initiatives actively advocate for circulating waste into resources, including in construction. The Circular Economy Act and waste reprocessing strategies form the backbone for enabling recycled construction aggregate use. Additionally, the community procurement and funding efforts create mechanisms supporting circular construction supply chains.
The new Scottish Aggregates Tax, currently at Stage 3 of the Holyrood process, aims to drive the construction sector towards recycling more of its waste products and using recycled materials in construction. Once passed into law, the tax will replace the current UK Levy and is expected to introduce an additional charge for virgin resources, making circular options cheaper.
The speaker emphasizes the need to use the Scottish Aggregates Tax to further incentivize the use of recycled aggregates. The tax, if implemented effectively, could potentially increase the percentage of aggregate demand in Scotland met with recycled aggregates, contributing to a more sustainable construction sector in Scotland.
References:
- Zero Waste Scotland. (n.d.). Construction and Demolition Waste. Retrieved from https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/businesses/construction-and-demolition-waste
- Zero Waste Scotland. (n.d.). Share & Repair Network. Retrieved from https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/our-work/circular-economy/share-repair-network
- Scottish Government. (2019). A Circular Economy for Scotland. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/a-circular-economy-for-scotland/
- Scottish Government. (2019). Aggregates and Minerals Survey. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/aggregates-and-minerals-survey-2019/
- ACAN. (n.d.). Circular Economy Policy Campaign. Retrieved from https://www.acan.org.uk/policy/circular-economy-policy-campaign
- The new Scottish Aggregates Tax, if implemented effectively, could incentivize an increase in the use of recycled aggregates, potentially meeting a higher percentage of aggregate demand in Scotland's construction industry and contributing to a more sustainable sector.
- With the draft Integrated Authorisation Framework promoting the use of recycled aggregates and the Circular Economy Act mandating actions to reduce waste and encourage recycling, the financial sector and businesses relying on the construction industry may see significant opportunities in Scotland's environmental science and growth of the recycled aggregate industry.
