Research Benchmark Reports
Since its launch in 2002 the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) has made a significant contribution to knowledge and practice in how to produce aggregates in a sustainable way. It has invested nearly £40m in over 360 research and development projects through MIRO, CLG and English Heritage covering an enormous range of topics.
The Sustainable Aggregates series of 12 benchmark reports was completed in 2008 to reflect the latest information and good practice from ALSF or other recent work to make them easily accessible to those who can put them into practice. There are 12 benchmark reports under 4 themes as follows:
Theme 1 Reducing the environmental effect
1. Water Environment L0084
2. Dust, Noise and Vibration L0089
3. Transport L0073
Theme 2 Sustainable provision of aggregates
4. Assessment and Planning L0001
5. Optimising the Efficiency of Primary Aggregates Production L0022
6. Sustainable Utilisation of Quarry By-products L0065
Theme 3 Creating environmental improvements
7. Biodiversity L0093
8. Geodiversity L0099
9. Restoration L0115
Theme 4 Heritage
10. Rich Deposits: aggregate extraction, research and the knowledge pool L0111
11. Sustainable Heritage: aggregate extraction and management of the historic environment L0113
12. The Sands of Time: aggregates extraction, heritage and the public L0112
In addition to these 12 reports a summary L0591 and overview L0075 report were been produced (and updated in 2012) to provide an overview of the design and management approaches available for reducing the environmental footprint of a quarry throughout its lifecycle. The overview report draws on the material in the benchmark reports.
It first identifies the elements of the environmental footprint and the range of environmental effects associated with each and then how they are avoided, mitigated or incorporated in the delivery of long, medium and short term environmental benefits. Chapters covering health and safety and stakeholder engagement are also included.
The reports have been written by recognised experts in their fields and reviewed by industry representatives and other key stakeholder groups, and have been designed to be easily accessible and to be widely shared.
They are aimed at a wide range of industry stakeholders, including operators, planners, environmentalists, NGOs, suppliers, the archaeological community, civil servants, local authorities, academics and interested parties from local communities associated with quarrying.
The reports also take stock of the knowledge base in each topic, identifying any gaps and recommending where future research effort might focus.