Environment and quarries : stop the myths!

When you're a chef at quarry, your ears tend to ring.

From noise and traffic jams created by heavy goods vehicles, to the destruction of natural habitats and dust, the industrial minerals sector has a lot on its mind with the general public.

While some prejudices are true - we'll come back to this later - many accusations are unfounded, according to the UNICEM study.

As Jean-Claude Lefeuvre, Professor at the Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle asserts: " It is possible to exploit quarries in an environmentally-friendly way. Artificial systems created in this way can even help offset some of the biodiversity loss observed in France ".

And yes, against all odds, quarries is a place where flora and fauna can live and reproduce!

Nevertheless, there's still a long way to go before they become models of sustainability. This article looks at preconceived ideas, proven facts and best practices for transforming quarries into real assets for the planet.

quarries and the environment in the collective unconscious

quarries of rock and sand are often synonymous with permanent damage to the environment: to build them, an entire ecosystem had to be destroyed, driving out the flora and fauna...

Preconceived ideas about the impact of quarries on the environment...

Myth no. 1: quarries destroys the natural habitat of many species and creates hostile rocky environments.

The studies carried out show that quarries in solid rock actually creates habitats close to natural rocky environments, introducing a parenthesis into the agricultural or forest landscape:

• In particular, they uncover new minerals beneficial to certain living beings.
• They create a topographical, climatic and hydric break in the region, enabling the creation of ponds and bodies of water.
• New spaces are created thanks to quarry faces, tiles, basins and embankments, in which flora and fauna can find shelter.

As a result, they are home to between 35% and 55% of the country's animal species. This puts them on a par with a Zone Naturelle d'Intérêt Ecologique Faunistique et Floristique. That's right!‍

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Myth n°2: quarries are arid lands that are not conducive to life.

The aquatic expanses created by quarries are home to many species threatened by the disappearance of natural wetlands. In fact, 90% of the waterbird species found in France frequent these sites throughout the year. They are also ideal breeding grounds for amphibians and rare plant species.

... and proven facts!

Myth no. 3: Most waste is not recycled.

Today, only 65% of construction waste is recycled. They are recovered and form part of a complete chain of reuse or circular economy to reduce them as much as possible, as well as the impact on the planet and surrounding housing.

Myth no. 4: quarries wastes large volumes of water.

It's clear that quarries are major consumers of water. In France, of the 3,300 quarries plants, 1,750 wash the materials they produce. While washing aggregates is an essential step in removing fine particles and ensuring sufficient adhesion with binders such as bitumen, lime and cement, it is also a vital stage in the production process.

Nevertheless, there are a few items of information that lighten the balance sheet:

• the water used is not necessarily drinking water
• the water is completely recycled and reused once decanted
• the water is not discharged outside the rear without first being checked
• natural settling zones become a habitable environment for flora and fauna

Myth no. 5: Dust that spreads is toxic.

Dust has many impacts on the environment:

• irritation and impaired respiratory function: the finer the particles, the deeper they penetrate the body.
• chronic soiling of buildings and exterior elements, depending on the color of the materials
• soil pollution, if it contains heavy metals.

How can you support the environment at quarry ?

Precise monitoring of your environmental actions

In 2021, you probably measure your performance by two indicators: the volume of material extracted and the sales generated. What if you looked at the situation from a different angle?

You could also use green indicators:

• impact on biodiversity, in terms of the number of species recorded in the area
• recycling, through the rate of recovery of waste from the quarry
• water use, by the quantity of water per 1m3 of concrete
• noise, through an analysis of the decibels emitted by the site
• biodiversity, through the number of trees planted

Waste recovery

Waste recovery is a priority action for the majority of quarries.
The European Union had set a target of 70% recycling of inert waste generated by the construction industry by 2020. This target has since been exceeded!

Here are the unions' tried-and-tested recommendations on the subject:

• more rational use of resources and aggregate production based on real customer needs: beware of overproduction!
• team awareness and training
• partnerships with local recycling facilities
• recycling within quarry itself, using inert waste for partial or total backfilling of extraction areas or the creation of landscape models

Reducing noise pollution

Although mining equipment is often noisy, it is in fact the comings and goings of heavy goods vehicles that bother local residents the most, especially the line of trucks waiting in front of quarry.

To alleviate this point of tension, the Garandeau Group has put in place a number of actions that may inspire you.

Equipment

• use a rock breaker instead of explosives, when rock properties allow it
• equip your vehicles with low-noise horns during the day and flashing beacons at night
• replace dump trucks with silent conveyor belts
• maximum containment of materials processing facilities
• where possible.

Heavy goods vehicles

• streamline on-site traffic to accelerate loading times and reduce queuing, thanks to digital terminals at the entrance and exit of the plant. quarry
• work with public institutions to ensure that asphalt access roads are in good condition.

Managing dust emissions

On this subject, the MIF, SFIC and UNPG unions have carried out extensive research into the impact of dust on health and the environment, as well as solutions for limiting emissions.

Vacuum dedusting

We're talking about suction here: it's best to avoid using a blower, which would spread the dust particles even further.

You can set up :

• centralized vacuum
• spot vacuuming
• an electrostatic precipitator
• spot vacuuming by truck

Raising team awareness

That should be the first piece of advice! Teams need to be trained in environmental issues as a whole. In the case of dust, awareness-raising will focus on :

• the use of protective equipment during operations
• staff rotation for plant cleaning

Proceed with dust suppression

The idea here is to trap particles in suspension with the water droplets so that they fall back or don't detach from the materials.

There are 3 solutions:

• watering: low-pressure water is spread over a track using agricultural equipment.
• atomization: water is sprayed at low pressure using compressed air
• nebulization: water is sprayed at high pressure in the form of a mist

A good solution for dust, but not so good for the environment! So be careful to optimize the quantities of water used.

Maintenance and upkeep of installations

Beyond the fact that machines need to be maintained so as not to produce additional particles - by shaking, for example, you also need to think about certain elements upstream of the installation:

• Check that new installations are easy to maintain: choose the right material for walls and floors, limit the number of nooks and crannies...
• Position workshops to avoid proximity to dust sources
• Ensure adequate ventilation of work areas.

Automate and set up video control

This isolates personnel from sources of dust emissions, limits exposure time to accident response only, and ensures real-time control of the production line.

The transformation of the land

quarry should blend in perfectly with its surroundings. To achieve this, we recommend planting vegetation, particularly trees, around the site:

• reduce noise pollution
• create a natural boundary
• attract new animal species
• transform your employees' working environment

For example, a former quarry in Morocco, covering an area of around 130 ha, has planted almost 12,000 olive trees and 70,000 other species of trees and plants of all kinds to create a bee-friendly environment.

This type of vegetation can be installed in areas where there is little or no activity. More generally, we advise you to think about the layout of spaces with a view to enhancing the ecological value of the site.

Beyond the benefits for the planet, you'll also be seen in a much brighter light by your neighbors.

In conclusion, you have all the keys you need to give meaning to your quarry and turn it into a tool with a positive impact on the environment.

At Synaxe, we're very sensitive to these issues, and that's why we've developed our solutions. So you can

• install entry and exit bollards to smooth the flow of heavy goods vehicles on the quarry
• dematerialize your delivery notes, to reduce the amount of paper used
• automate part of your production line, to limit your teams' exposure to fine particles.

Now it's your turn!
(and to discover Synaxe solutions, click here!)

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