Environment

Dunbar Plant

Energy and carbon reduction

Sustainability is at the core of Tarmac’s business and is deeply embedded in our culture. Our sustainability strategy plays a central role in our vision to become our customers’ preferred choice for sustainable construction solutions.

We have set ambitious commitments and targets based around four key themes - people, performance, planet and solutions.

The cement made at Dunbar and the range of construction materials produced by Tarmac’s business, play a vital role in the construction industry.

The UK Government has set targets around carbon reduction and sustainability, which will change the built environment. As a leader in the UK construction sector, Tarmac is set to play its part.

Restoration

Restoring the Old Quarry

Our former North West Quarry - now known as 'Whitesands Quarry' - was transformed into a wildlife haven, thanks to a landmark agreement with RSPB Scotland. It is now being left to develop naturally and is a popular spot for birdwatchers.

Barns Ness Lighthouse

The lighthouse at Barns Ness was designed by David Stevenson and was first brought in to service in 1901.

After the Northern Lighthouse Board had no further use for it, Dunbar Cement Plant purchased it in 2007.

It is often used for local fundraising events, such as abseils, and receives a repaint every few years to protect it from the harsh elements.

Regulation and Governance

Our operation is strictly regulated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) through our environmental permit. We are required to meet UK legislation on air and water emission limits, and European legislation (the Waste Incineration Directive or WID) for our use of waste-derived fuels.

We have made significant improvements to our environmental performance by reducing levels of emissions.

We have high-tech systems in place to monitor all aspects of our operation in great detail and in line with the requirements of our operating permit. With some of our emissions, we have continuous (24-hour) monitors established and with others, we are required to gather data ‘extractively’ on a regular basis, as specified by SEPA.

Environment FAQs

Have you got a question on how the operation at Dunbar affects the environment? We have some helpful answers for you below.

If your question isn't here, contact us directly on [email protected]

We continuously monitor certain emissions during our operational hours. These monitors are very precise and have to meet EU and UK quality and reliability standards, as well as being calibrated by independent skilled third parties. The data from the monitors is recorded in our control rooms where alarms will trigger if an emission limit is breached. Every three months we submit the daily data to our regulators to demonstrate compliance and all records are retained at the Plant for at least six years to be reviewed if necessary.

With other emissions (where technology does not allow continuous measurement), an independent certified testing house takes samples and tests them in a laboratory every six months to check levels are in compliance.

Our Environmental Management System (EMS) sets out procedures to ensure we can comply with our limits and our operators and managers work very hard to ensure we do not go over the limits. However if we do then this is reported to the regulator in line with our permit and EMS. Investigations are carried out to understand why we went over the limit and corrective actions put in place to prevent this happening again.

The main emissions from the chimney are Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and water vapour - this is the steam you sometimes see if the weather conditions allow, much like boiling a kettle in a cold or hot room. Other major emissions are Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Sulphur Dioxide (SOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Particulates (Dust) . NOx, SOx, CO and Dust are all continuously monitored against limit values to show they are at safe and acceptable levels. These limits along with other smaller emissions are listed in our permit with measurement requirements.

All of our quarries have restoration plans to develop them in line with local need at the end of their life. The final restoration is agreed with the local authorities and examples of former quarry restoration across the UK includes retail and commercial developments to nature reserves, outdoor classrooms and woodland walks. Read more about our restoration at Dunbar’s Old Quarry here. It is important to note that not all restoration is carried out at the end of quarry operations. We continually restore worked out areas of the quarry as work finishes in order to reduce the operational footprint and visual impact of the quarry.

Before any work starts on a new quarry an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) is carried out to check for animals and flowers/grasses which need to be preserved or relocated. Only once this is done, will quarry work begin. During the quarry operation many animals choose to make their home there and live happily alongside our operations. Animals and birds often seen living in the quarry will range from rabbits, foxes, badgers and hares to swallows, swifts, bats, kestrels, owls and peregrine falcons. When these animals take up residency we work alongside them with respect and ensure any activity which may disturb them is not carried out during sensitive times such as when they have young.