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The Environment & Sustainability
We are committed to compliance with existing legislation, prevention of pollution and continuous improvement of environmental management. Our goal is to minimise the environmental impacts of our business and where practicable provide environmental benefit. To this end, we employ a team of full time professional experts in environmental and planning matters.
To ensure the environmental impacts are controlled and minimised and that the objectives and commitments of the Kilsaran are achieved we have established and maintain Environmental Management Systems (EMS) at all out major extractive sites.
We have always put environmentally-friendly practices at the heart of our planning process and the day-to-day operations at our quarries, manufacturing plants and display centres, further down this web page you can read how we do this.
Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
Paving & Walling Manufacturing Plant
Using Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS)
Licensing and Permitting
Planning and environmental legislation requires that the vast majority of new and extensions to existing quarries or sand & gravel pits require an Environmental Impact Assessment. Furthermore, licenses are required for discharges of water from quarries and air emissions licenses are need for newer asphalt plants.
Over the past fifteen years, we have compiled and submitted in the region of 25 Environmental Impact Statements in support of planning applications for quarrying. This is indicative of our commitment to proper planning and environmental legislation.
We undertake a comprehensive emissions monitoring programme across our portfolio of quarries in compliance with planning permissions and licenses, details of which are given below.
Environmental Management Systems
Our Environmental Management System (EMS) provides a set of simple and clear procedures to help deal with the wide range of environmental issues that arise as a consequence of the quarrying operations.
The purpose of the EMS is to establish these procedures so that the environmental policy can be achieved, with continuous improvement in environmental performance. The EMS is fully documented and includes reviews/ updates in accordance with evolving legislation.
We have developed Environmental Management Systems (EMS) tailored to the size and type of extractive activities we are engaged in.
Environmental Monitoring
Whilst a good EMS will ensure that mitigation of environmental impact is forefront to the operation of any extractive site, it is equally important that emissions are monitored on a regular basis to ensure that the impact from the quarry is not significant.
Emissions from an extractive operation may include noise, dust, ground vibrations and blast noise. Ongoing monitoring of surface water and groundwater is essential to demonstrate on-site procedures are preventing pollution. Equally where active de-watering is taking place perimeter monitoring of groundwater levels is essential to gauge the impact on the surrounding watertable.
A large amount of environmental monitoring data is collected and reported annually across our portfolio of quarries and pits. Dust deposition is measures continuously at around 35 locations, with monthly average dustfall being reported. Noise monitoring is carried out at around 30 locations monthly and every blast at every quarry is monitored for ground vibration and blast noise. Groundwater levels are recorded at least monthly in 50 wells in and around the company’s quarries. Further monitoring data is accumulated in compliance with licenses for surface water quarry discharges and emissions to air from our asphalt plants.
Sustainability
The aggregates industry is based on an ultimately finite resource. The issue from a sustainable point of view is whether or not the human-made wealth created for existing and future generations justifies the consumption of these finite resources and the disruption involved. The greater the effort made to minimise the adverse effect on the environment, whilst preparing for, and both during and after extraction, the more sustainable extractive development projects may be.
We are firmly of the view that extraction of aggregates, whilst benefiting existing generations, should not adversely impact on any future generations and their ability to enjoy the countryside. Through careful management, opportunities to create more diverse habitats can positively benefit these future generations.
The provision of raw materials to meet the needs of today’s society may also provide an opportunity to examine, explore and understand past geological processes through the exposure of fresh rock/gravel faces.
Stripping back of the topsoil may also reveal more recent times when earlier generations of human beings interacted with the landscape.
Bio-diversity
With any quarry there is a disturbance to the ground and a loss of habitat with the potential for a reduction in biodiversity, the operation of the quarry itself may also give rise to a negative impacts.
However these impacts can be addressed through the EMS so that extractive sites do not reduce biodiversity but are managed to greatly enhance and protect biodiversity.
Quite often the land use prior to extraction is intensive agriculture, where species diversity is low due to spraying. During extraction and post-closure, exposed quarry faces are ideal breeding and feeding sites for Peregrine Falcons, indeed these birds are not uncommon at a number of our quarries.
Similarly exposed faces at sand and gravel pits provide ideal nesting sites for Sand Martins.
The provision of water bodies during the operation life or as part of a careful restoration scheme offers valuable habitat for insects and amphibians.
Geo-diversity
The Irish Geological Heritage Programme spearheaded by the Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI) sets out to protect and promote important geological sites representing different geological topics across the country.
One of our quarries is an important example of a recommended geological Natural Heritage Area within a working quarry. In this case the rocks provides a window into a unique and dramatic episode in Ireland’s geological past – of volcanic islands within an ancient closing ocean that brought the two separate halves of Ireland together. The ongoing extraction enhances this geological value through fossil collecting and research opportunities.
To this end, Kilsaran has agreed to support and allow access to a geological research team which will improve our knowledge and interpretation of events 400 million years ago.
Cooperation between us and the GSI is not a new. Over a number of years from 2002, the company backed a quaternary mapping project in the Northeast. The finished products included a detailed map of the superficial deposits across County Louth, which is available to purchase from the GSI.
Archaeology and Heritage
We recognise that archaeological heritage is a resource which can be used to gain knowledge and understanding of the past, that archaeological heritage is of great cultural and scientific importance. Download our archaeology and heritage case study relating to our Brownstown sand and gravel pit in Co. Kildare.
Restoration
It is a fundamental environmental principal endorsed by Kilsaran that a quarry site must be restored to a defined afteruse once rock extraction has ceased, ideally this restoration will take place progressively as areas within the quarry become exhausted.
With modern planning controls quarry developments will not get consent without a detailed site restoration plan. There is great potential to create new habitats and promote biodiversity through these restoration schemes. Likewise should a quarry contain interesting or important geological features as with the archaeological case study at Brownstown, the restoration scheme could incorporate access and information panels to promote this aspect for future generations.
Waste Minimisation and Recovery
We operates a number of permitted recovery facilities where waste arising from the concrete manufacturing and the road surfacing divisions are recovered and put to a beneficial use.
Other waste arising from our operations, such as old tyres, used batteries and the like are all disposed or recycled by licensed operators.
Kilsaran, in conjunction with Thorntons Recycling, has developed a system to capture material resource efficiency on all its sites by minimizing waste generation and maximizing the recovery of materials and components. The system operates in an environmentally sustainable and economically advantageous manner.
Paving & Walling Manufacturing Plant
Our paving and walling division commissioned a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in 2008 and a landmark display centre and showroom in 2009. Located in Dunboyne, County Meath, both of these facilities reflect our commitment to the environment and sustainability.
All our paving products are manufactured and cured using the most energy efficient technology available today, thereby reducing CO2 emissions. Water is collected, conserved and utilised in the manufacturing process and recycling systems ensure the elimination of waste.
The showroom has been built with the environment firmly in mind. Innovative ground source heat loops, a naturally ventilated building, high insulation values and proximity to the manufacturing plant from which the main proportion of material is supplied, add to the sustainability of the building.
Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag (GGBS)
By using an ingredient called GGBS in our concrete mix we significantly reduce the carbon footprint of our range of concrete products. In the case of our paving and walling range, typically every 100m2 saves over two tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of taking one car off the road for six months or seven months electricity usage in the average home.
Our Awards
We are proud that our commitment to good environmental practice has been recognised both at National and International level with Kilsaran having received a number of high-profile accolades. We don't just talk about the environment, we act on it.
Environmental Best Practice
UEPG Sustainable Development Awards 2005
Gallstown Plant, Co. Louth
National Winner
ICF Environmental Awards 2003
Balrothery Cross Plant, Dublin 24
Highly Commended
ICF Environmental Awards 2003
Lucan Plant, County Dublin
Four Star Award
National Green Aggregates Award Scheme 2002
Kilmessan Quarry, County Meath
Latest Project
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Our pre-mixed products are now available in plastic bags
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