Colliery Waste Materials

HC Deb 17 June 1969 vol 785 cc247-8

24. Mr. Probert

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the use of colliery waste materials.

Mr. Mason

An increasing amount of colliery shale is being used in roadway construction, mainly as a result of black shales being now found acceptable as a satisfactory base-fill material. A further notable use has been in construction projects such as the International Hoverport at Pegwell Bay.

Mr. Probert

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what new uses are being found for these waste materials and whether disposals are increasing or decreasing?

Mr. Mason

There is a very encouraging development. Where previously these burnt-out spoil heaps could only be used when they consisted of red shales, it is now possible for black shales to be used, and experiments are being carried out with them. Disposal of colliery shales has gone up from a level of about 5 million tons in recent years to 6.7 million tons in 1968–69.