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November 21, 2008


EC guidance classifies BF slag in UK as byproduct

Waste & Resources Action Program announced that a decision by the UK Environment Agency under the guidance of the European Commission to reclassify steel blast furnace slag as a byproduct rather than waste, will permit the re use of the approximate 3 million tonnes of slag produced in the UK each year.

The reclassification came as a result of a consultation exercise with industry undertaken by the Waste Protocols Project a JV between the Environment Agency and WRAP. Recently issued guidance from the European Commission on the distinction between byproducts and wastes was considered and helped shape the outcome.

Mr Richard Swannell joint project executive at Waste & Resources Action Program said that "Blast furnace slag is a first rate quality resource for the production of aggregates for a range of high value applications reducing the demand for primary aggregates.” He added that as ground granulated BFS it has even greater benefits as a cement replacement improving concrete quality and reducing concrete's carbon footprint.

Mr Martin Brocklehurst head of environmental protection external program at the Environment Agency said "Considering all the information available about air cooled and ground granulated BFS produced in the UK have been able to conclude that this material can be classified as a byproduct and not a waste. He added that this is good news for the industry, which contributed greatly to the technical report that helped inform this decision."

Previously, some BF slag had been controlled under waste legislation, resulting in its unnecessary disposal in landfill sites.

Demand for BF slag is high in UK and it currently outstrips supply. The statement also said that approximately 75% of UK BFS production is converted into ground granulated BF slag and the remainder into air cooled BF slag. Virtually all granulated BF slag produced is for sale to the UK concrete market. Air cooled BFS is however, commonly crushed and screened for UK aggregate sales.