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construction and demolition waste

Why the Mineral Products Association Wants a New Construction Recycling Survey

The Mineral Products Association says Britain needs a comprehensive survey of construction and demolition waste recycling, citing a data gap and an MPA estimate of 74.7 million tonnes of recycled and secondary aggregates in 2024.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 3 min read
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The Mineral Products Association (MPA) is asking Defra to commission a comprehensive national survey of construction and demolition waste recycling. The association says almost two decades have passed since the last comprehensive government-backed survey, leaving the industry and policymakers without a consistent, up-to-date picture of recycling activity and capacity. Its own estimate puts recycled and secondary aggregate supply at 74.7 million tonnes in 2024, but that is an MPA estimate—not the result of a new government survey.

What survey is the MPA asking Defra to commission?

The request concerns construction and demolition waste recycled into aggregates, not household recycling generally. The MPA says a comprehensive national survey of hard construction and demolition waste is overdue. The exact year and detailed methodology of the last comprehensive government-backed survey are not established in the association’s statement; it describes the gap as almost two decades.

The MPA’s economist and report author, Luke George, said that without more robust and reliable data, it is difficult to identify opportunities for investment or understand how recycling capacity is changing. The association’s proposed survey would provide a clearer national account of material flows and the sector’s capacity.

How much recycled aggregate does Britain use?

The MPA’s Profile of the UK Mineral Products Industry, 2025 Edition estimates that 74.7 million tonnes of recycled and secondary aggregates were supplied in 2024. The MPA says these materials have accounted for around 30% of total aggregates supply over the preceding 15 years. These are association estimates, not figures from a consistent government dataset.

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A later MPA release in September 2026 describes its deduction from the 2024 assessment as more than 70 million tonnes. That rounded figure and the profile’s 74.7 million-tonne estimate refer to the same broad category and year but come from different MPA publications; they should not be presented as independent measurements.

What counts as recycled and secondary aggregate?

The categories are related but not interchangeable. Recycled aggregates typically come from construction, demolition and excavation materials, while secondary aggregates are by-products of other industrial processes.

MPA category 2022 estimate Examples or description
Recycled aggregates 60.3 million tonnes Construction, demolition and excavation waste, including concrete and brick rubble, rail track ballast and earthworks spoil.
Asphalt planings processed for reuse 5.8 million tonnes Planings processed for reuse in roads.
Secondary aggregates 7.4 million tonnes Industrial by-products, including china clay waste and incinerator bottom ash.
Recycled and secondary materials combined 73.5 million tonnes MPA’s reported total for 2022, described at the time as a record.

All figures in the table are MPA estimates published in 2024 and refer to 2022. They are not directly interchangeable with the 2024 estimate above: the categories and reporting years differ.

Why does the MPA say current data is not enough?

The MPA says it compiles its figures from member information and other available sources. Its 2025 industry profile says there is no consistent national dataset beyond MPA data. That makes it harder to compare activity over time or establish a complete picture of the materials available to the market.

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The association argues that better information could help government and businesses assess recycling capacity and make investment decisions. MPA Chief Executive Paul Adeleke said clearer data would help inform plans for economic growth, housing, infrastructure and circular-economy objectives. Those are the MPA’s policy arguments; the case for a survey does not by itself establish that new data would cause investment or increase recycling.

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How is construction waste turned into aggregate?

Processing can involve crushing material, separating out contaminants such as metals and plastics, washing and screening, then blending material to meet technical specifications. The MPA describes these as possible stages, not a single process used by every facility. The resulting aggregate can be used where it meets the requirements of a project.

Can recycled aggregate replace primary aggregate?

No. The MPA says recycled supply depends on the amount and type of waste available, so it cannot meet every demand for aggregate. It argues that recycled and secondary materials play an essential role, while land-sourced and marine primary aggregates remain necessary for construction supply.

The MPA also describes Britain as having one of Europe’s highest recycling rates, but international comparisons need care: countries may use different definitions, geographic coverage and measurement methods. A comprehensive, consistent survey is the specific data improvement the association is seeking from Defra.

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