Government’s ambitions at risk without accurate data on recycled and secondary aggregates
The Government’s ambitions for a more circular and prosperous economy could be compromised without up-to-date figures on recycled materials like aggregates.
According to a new report from the Mineral Products Association (MPA), the absence of recent, detailed, survey-based data on the re-use of construction wastes risks slowing investment in new recycling facilities and technologies.
Almost two decades have passed since the last comprehensive Government-backed survey on recycling of waste materials to produce aggregates, and that data is still in use today – a position the MPA argues is at odds with the change in emphasis towards resource circularity.
In a new report titled Construction Aggregates Supply in Great Britain: Primary, Recycled and Secondary Aggregates, the MPA has drawn on data from members and elsewhere to assess the country’s aggregates market in 2024, estimating the supply of recycled aggregates (typically from demolition and excavation) and secondary aggregates (byproducts of other industrial processes).
The report highlights the industry’s strong recycling credentials, with the MPA deducing that recycled and secondary aggregates accounted for more than 70 million tonnes of total aggregates supply in 2024. Representing almost one third of Britain’s aggregates market, this is among the highest recycling rates in Europe and has been broadly consistent in recent years.
However, given the lack of official data, the MPA considers its estimates to be conservative since its methodology does not account for development in new technology and growth in capacity to convert once waste materials into valuable resources.
While the assessment likely underestimates the volume of material being recycled, the MPA says that regulatory and commercial forces mean the vast majority of suitable materials are being re-processed back into use. Recycled aggregates make a vital contribution to the overall supply mix, and reduce the pressure on primary resources which can be specified for particular purposes in construction.
But because recycling depends on the availability of waste materials, the MPA argues that recycled aggregates cannot replace the need for new land-sourced and marine supplies. Primary aggregates will remain the dominant source of supply for Britain's future housing and infrastructure needs according to MPA.
MPA economist Luke George, author of the new report, said: “Great Britain's supply of recycled aggregates is something the industry can be proud of, with more than 70 million tonnes – almost a third of the total – used in construction each year. However, an up-to-date and comprehensive national survey of hard construction and demolition waste is long overdue. Without more robust and reliable data, it is difficult to identify opportunities for further investment or fully understand how recycling capacity is evolving.
“A new Government-led survey would strengthen the evidence base, improve industry accountability and provide a more accurate picture of the contribution made by recycled aggregates. In addition, it would help national and local policymakers plan for future mineral requirements and ensure the supply chain can support long-term ambitions for housing, transport, energy, defence and other nationally significant infrastructure projects.”
Jon Fisher, chief executive of circular solutions company GRS Group, said: “We deal with the recovery and reuse of construction wastes and industrial byproducts every day, and the recycling sector is way more advanced than the outdated Government data might suggest. A proper nationwide survey wouldn't just validate what we already know – it would give the whole sector, and its backers, the right information and the confidence to invest further and faster in an industry that’s central to UK housing and infrastructure delivery."
Paul Adeleke, MPA Chief Executive, said: “If the Government wants to bolster economic growth, deliver new homes, expand infrastructure and advance circular economy objectives, it first needs a clearer picture of the materials available to the market. Better data would reinforce the reality that while recycled and secondary aggregates play an essential role, Britain’s ambitions cannot be achieved without a sufficient and timely supply of quarried primary aggregates.”
ENDS
The full report can be viewed on the MPA website: https://mineralproducts.org/MPA/media/root/Publications/2026/Construction_Aggregates_Supply_in_GB_2024.pdf
About the Mineral Products Association:
The Mineral Products Association (MPA) is the trade association for the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, dimension stone, lime, mortar and industrial sand industries. MPA is the sectoral voice for mineral products, covering 100% of UK cement and lime production, 90% of GB aggregates production, 95% of asphalt and over 60% of ready-mixed concrete and precast concrete production. In 2023, the industry supplied £18.4 billion worth of materials and services to the Economy, directly generating £6.7 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA). It is the largest supplier to the construction industry, which generated £141.5 billion in GVA in 2023.
For media enquiries, contact: Robert.McIlveen@mineralproducts.org