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Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
"Quarries are created by removing topsoil, followed by drilling and blasting to extract minerals and sedimentary rocks. Roads and other facilities are also created to support mining operations, such as transport. Every stage of a quarry’s life cycle comes at an enormous environmental cost: loss of natural carbon sinks, eradication of biodiversity, noise and air pollution, and disruption of natural streams and springs. And these losses can never be reversed, even after quarries are inevitably abandoned.
These harmful effects aren’t only felt by the local flora and fauna, but also by people. In certain cases, local populations have even been permanently displaced. After there is nothing left to be extracted, or extraction becomes unprofitable, quarries often become filled with rainwater – creating dangerous lakes with sharp rocks and cliffs – or, worse still, are used as landfills." - EcoStandard: Quarries are Temporary but their Environmental Impacts are Forever
Dangers of Quarries
Dangers of Quarries
Large Carbon Footprint
Large Carbon Footprint
Quarries have a huge carbon footprint because of several multiplying factors including
The destruction of natural carbon sinks such as forests, grasslands, and peatland.
Construction of new roads and emissions spent getting equipment and people to/from each quarry.
Emissions expended to dig the quarry.
Emissions to ship materials away from the quarry.
Additional emissions to process materials such as lime into cement - which has a particularly high carbon footprint.
Potential production of greenhouse gases such as methane after the quarry is abandoned and floods.
Noise Pollution
Noise Pollution
Habitat Destruction
Habitat Destruction
Soil Pollution
Soil Pollution
Solutions
Solutions
The following are listed (to the best of our ability) from most environmentally-friendly solution to less. As well as easier and cheaper, to more expensive, and needing more engineering expertise and equipment to accomplish.
Consume Responsibly
Consume Responsibly
Reduce & Reuse
Reduce & Reuse
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation
Rewilding
Rewilding
"The traditional cement industry in Europe has been involved in many of these projects. But these efforts should also be reinforced with a more holistic approach. According to the biodiversity mitigation hierarchy, avoiding biodiversity loss should be the default over rehabilitation and restoration. While we can restore quarries, the damage is already done, and it is only a band-aid solution for a growing wound." - EcoStandard: Quarries are Temporary but their Environmental Impacts are Forever
Community Green Space
Community Green Space
Water Storage
Water Storage
Eco-Friendly Quarrying Practices
Eco-Friendly Quarrying Practices
Since we can't yet eliminate all mining and quarrying activities, it's worth exploring and implementing as many sustainable measures as possible for the ones we do need to have.
Site Location Selection
Site Location Selection
Quarries placed in locations with lower ecological value may help minimize biodiversity loss, which in turn means more carbon can stay stored as biomass.
Restoration
Restoration
If, for example, the new quarry is dun on already-heavily degraded land, then the quarry is followed up with a rewilding project, then the damage could potentially be undone, or in a best case scenario and with the help of regenerative practices, the land could be restored to better health than when the quarry was there.
Dust Suppression
Dust Suppression
Sprinkling water regularly or using water cannons can help reduce dangerous dust creation within the quarry. The water can even be recycled to reduce water waste.
Water Management Systems
Water Management Systems
These are vital for reducing run off pollution, and for saving valuable water particularly during water scarcity.
Resources
Resources
Organizations
Organizations
Alliance for Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete (Alliance LCCC) "We, partners of the Alliance for Low-Carbon Cement and Concrete, understand that urgent action is needed at EU level in order to meet Europe’s climate goals of 55% reduction by 2030, climate neutrality by 2050, and to contribute to ensure energy security. Read our Manifesto to find out how this can be done!"
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