Without them, new highways or residential, commercial and industrial development could not happen. They are however a finite resource, extracted in particular areas where the geology is suitable and it is economic to quarry. With increasing construction and particularly, urban development, the construction industry’s dependence on primary aggregates is unsustainable.
Historically waste aggregate-based materials such as concrete, brick and roadstone from construction or demolition would be landfilled. This perpetuated demand for primary aggregates. Recycling construction waste to produce secondary aggregates reduces demand for primary aggregates, reduces the environmental footprint of construction and contributes towards the development of a circular economy, where resources and materials are kept in use for as long as possible and waste is avoided. Against this backdrop, national and local government has developed a suite of waste and minerals policies to promote the sustainable use of mineral resources.
There remains a need for primary aggregates, as demand exceeds the available supply of secondary aggregates, but through recycling, the amount needing to be quarried each year can be reduced, and existing reserves of primary aggregates will last longer.
Forest Wood Quarry is a regionally important producer of carboniferous limestone and has worked since the early 1930s, providing primary aggregates for construction works in the local area. We acquired the quarry in 2021 as part of our strategy to supply a range of quality primary and secondary aggregates to customers in Rhondda Cynon Taf and The Vale of Glamorgan. The quarry is geographically well-located and is one of only two limestone quarries in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
Based on current extraction rates, the quarry has a remaining working life of around 15-20 years. As an essential element in the local construction supply chain, it is critical that we make best-use of any remaining reserves in order to maximise the operational life of the quarry. To this end, our objectives are:
Through a combination of improved yields and sales of secondary aggregates to replace quarried materials, the need to quarry stone will be reduced and the lifetime of the remaining reserves can be maximised. Our approach supports the delivery of both local and national mineral and waste policies.
Ryan Jones Group, Garth Isaf Farm, Efail Isaf, Pontypridd CF38 1SN
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