Many of us are committed to living our lives in a more
environmentally friendly way, especially in the face of climate change and
other environmental concerns. While it’s easy to make greener choices in our
day to day lives, industries such as construction may struggle to thrive while
protecting the environment.
Quarrying is one practice that has come under the spotlight;
it’s a process that is vital to the building and construction industries, but
some say that the damage it can cause to the environment isn’t worth it.
However, many quarry companies are taking steps to ensure their practices are
as environmentally friendly as possible, so if you want to know more about
quarrying and the environment, read on.
What is a quarry?
A quarry is a type of deep, open pit mine from which
materials can be extracted; including chalk, limestone, coal, marble and more.
Quarries are used to provide construction and building materials to their
community, which are extracted through controlled blasts before being sent to a
crusher.
Quarrying and the environment
Concerns about the impact of quarrying have been recorded as
far back as the 1890s, and it’s true that the practice of quarrying does raise
a lot of issues, such as noise pollution, dust, smoke and damage to the local
landscape.
There are issues when it comes to quarrying, however the
resources they provide are essential for our everyday lives; providing
materials for everything from roads and surfaces to buildings and construction
aggregates. The quarry industry also provides employment for the local economy,
and the cliffs and rock faces of quarries provide nesting sites for birds and a
place for rare plants to grow.
How can quarries be more environmentally
friendly?
Many quarry companies take great measures to ensure their
practices are in line with all the correct environmental procedures. Quarry
owners are required to seek permission from District Mining Authorities and the
Local Pollution Control Board to ensure procedures are being followed
correctly.
Many quarries also offer recycled aggregates as a way to
minimise the environmental impact a quarry has. Made from recycled materials
from previous projects, recycled aggregates are an affordable and eco-friendly
construction material.
Controlled blasts keep damage to the surrounding environment
and noise to a minimum, and dust emissions can be reduced by planting a screen
of trees around the quarry. Planting these trees also helps disguise the quarry
and machinery for local residents, as well as encouraging growth of indigenous
trees.
Finally, once a quarry is no longer needed, it can be filled
in or restored to provide an area of natural interest, such as a lake.
If you’re in need of stone, gravel and sand quarry products
in Dumbarton, Glasgow or Lanarkshire, get in touch with William Thompson &
Son. We have almost 70 years of experience as one of Glasgow’s leading
suppliers of quarry products, and we work closely with local environmental
agencies to ensure our methods have as little environmental impact as possible.
For more information about our products and services, give us a call or visit our website.
