Waste generation by mining and quarrying and electricity plants in the Netherlands: generation and processing, 1994-2002

Almost all the waste from electricity plants, most of which consists of fly ash, is re-used. This is the case for less than half of the waste from mining and quarrying.

	Waste generated by		Waste generated
	mining and quarrying		by the generation of
			electricity and heat
	total	among which	total	among which
		re-use1		re-use1)
	million kg
1994	178	9	1 391	1 232
1996	285	168	1 399	1 379
1998	268	180	1 538	1 514
2000	203	49	1 644	1 611
2001	182	59	1 582	1 566
2002	225	103	1 682	1 668
Source: CBS (2003).		CBS/EDC/Aug03/0124
1) The other waste is generally sent to landfill or incinerated. N.B. From businesses with ten or more employees. With effect from 2001, from businesses with one or more employees.

Waste generation by mining and quarrying

The waste generated by mining and quarrying mainly consists of drillings, drilling stone and drilling sludge. These substances are generally sent to landfill or discharged in the sea. The total amount of waste since 1994 has varied unpredictably. This is due to non-process quantities of mildly contaminated soil. The recovery of this soil as a filler or for earth raising has resulted in re-use figures that also fluctuate.

Waste generation by electricity plants

Waste from electricity plants mainly consists of coal residues. The opportunities for useful application of these residues were investigated shortly after the introduction of hard coal into the plants. At present, almost all coal residues are re-used. The majority of the coal residues consist of fly ash which is mainly sold on to the cement industry. Bottom ash is also generated. This is sold to the road construction industry and as building blocks. Finally, flue gas desulphurisation gypsum is also produced, and this is mainly used in the production of gypsum wallboards.

References

• CBS (2003). Statline. Bedrijfsafvalstoffen. Statistics Netherlands, Voorburg/Heerlen.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium

• Consumption in the Netherlands of energy carriers by target sector, 1990-2002
• Waste generation and processing by target sector in the Netherlands, 1990-2001*
• Guide to Environmental theme of Waste management for data about total waste generated in the Netherlands.
• Guide to 'Waste management measures' section for information about the processing of waste in the Netherlands
• More information about the generation and processing of waste can be found on Statline (Statistics Netherlands).