Environmental Standards
Buxton Lime is passionately committed to the protection of the environment. In 2000, both the Tunstead and Hindlow operations achieved the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems standard following audits by the British Standards Institute. Since then the Company and BSI have carried out regular assessments to ensure compliance with this demanding environmental standard.
The lime kilns and cement plant are closely regulated by the Environment Agency under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations. Comprehensive monitoring systems ensure that both sites fully comply with the requirements of their permits.
Buxton Lime has a commitment in its Environmental Policy to 'meet and, where possible, exceed applicable legal requirements, regulations and standards' and has invested millions of pounds and many hours of staff time in reducing emissions from the sites and encouraging waste minimisation.
Wherever possible Buxton lime encourages the bio-diversity of wildlife in and around its landholdings and is constantly striving to further improve its sustainability. Some important achievements are:
- Major investment in a modern efficient cement plant to deliver important environmental benefits through significant reductions in emissions and energy use per tonne of cement.
- Upgrading of the lime kilns at Tunstead and Hindlow to enable major reductions in particulate emissions.
- Investment in new plant to allow process wastes to be recycled.
- Restoration of quarry faces at Tunstead.
- £100,000 investment to improve the appearance of old quarry tips at Hindlow including the planting of 5,000 trees.
- Restoration of the old cement plant site at Tunstead.
- Programme of tree planting and dry stone walling.
Buxton Lime's commitment to the environment has recently been praised by the Environment Agency in its annual report 'Spotlight on Business'. Particular mention was made of the positive way Buxton Lime worked with the Environment Agency to ensure that 'Best Available Techniques' to protect the environment were incorporated into the design of the new cement plant. In addition, the Agency recognised the significant investment made which has delivered important reductions in emissions.
