The UK brick industry has for the past 15 years been seen as a potential repository for a number of by-products, secondary raw materials, and waste arising from other industries and processes. This paper reviews not only the external, but also internal waste streams, by products, and secondary raw materials that are being, have been, or are currently under review and trial, the benefits and potential pitfalls.

The UK brick industry is currently caught between the 'push factors' from waste management, reduction and recycling initiatives and best practice sourced from UK, EU and Global regulations and legislation, and that of the 'pull factors' from its customers and shareholders for 'greener' and more environmentally ethical construction materials.

Far from being at the back of the queue when it comes to the use of recycled waste materials in UK manufacturing plc, the UK brick industry has, and continues to be a leader in the assessment and use of these materials. From the recycling of wet clay off cuts, crushed fired waste (grog), scrubber residues, and sand/stains back into the production process, through to the more established utilisation of externally sourced materials such as pfa (pulverised fuel ash), slag, waste water treatment residues (sewage filter cake, incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA)), coal and coke fines washings (breeze) into the body of the bricks.

More recently a number of industries, chemical, processing and recycling, have identified materials (wastes to them) that would typically be going to landfill. As disposal to landfillis becoming more difficult, the producers of these materials are seeking alternative 'disposal' routes. As the UK brick industry has been accommodating in the past, they are one of the first ports of call to see if a brick works can use these materials. It is therefore not only important to know what the materials are, but also what effect they will have on the brick making process and end product, both technically, environmentally, and financially.

Brick containing recycled materials could become a prerequisite for some developers, architects and specifiers. It is therefore important that a coherent case is made highlighting the fact that the UK brick industry in general, and individual manufacturers specifically, are actually already at the forefront of this, but just haven't made this clear to the wider audience as yet.