About Quarrying

CEMEX provides crushed rock and sand and gravel for concrete and mortar needed in the building of homes, schools, offices, shops, hospitals and roads. Aggregates from CEMEX ‘s more than 100 quarries are also used in the filtering of drinking water, the cleansing of emissions from our power stations and products, as diverse as light bulbs, china and toothpaste.

Quarrying makes a substantial contribution to the local economy by providing jobs, often in the countryside where employment opportunities are limited, and generating spending on support services.CEMEX applies careful planning to ensure a balance between the need for raw materials and protection of the environment. The company strives to minimise the impact of quarrying operations and involves the local community in developing opportunities around after use of land. It has delivered a number of outstanding developments through partnerships with the Wildlife Trust, and collaboration with neighbours, community groups and local authorities.

Many of the UK’s best angling lakes, nature reserves and recreational sites were created from former sand and gravel excavations. With 40,000 members, CEMEX Angling is today the largest commercial angling organisation in the UK, offering over 70 mature, fish-filled lakes and 20 stretches of river.

A number of CEMEX sites have also been designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) following restoration, including Lackford Lakes in Suffolk and Attenborough Nature Reserve in Nottinghamshire. At Taff’s Well quarry near Cardiff, an area of beech woodland was even upgraded recently, from SSSI to Special Area of Conservation (SAC) by the European Union, making it a significant site at European level.