Further information

The MINRES project has developed a framework to facilitate the use of mineral wastes - such as ashes, sludge, mineral processing residues, etc. in the manufacture of construction products, including bricks concrete products, aircrete, mineral fibre insulation, cement, plasterboard and manufactured aggregates. 

The project, which is funded by Defra has been carried out by project partners The Minerals Industry Research Organisation (MIRO), The Building Research Establishment (BRE), The University of Leeds, Akristos Ltd and the National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP).

1) GIS System

MINRES is a web based Geographical Information System (GIS) developed by BRE with funding support from Defra’s Waste Programme. It is based on the BREMAP™ system which was funded by Biffaward through landfill tax credits and a grant from the Institution of Civil Engineers R&D Enabling Fund.Just type in the postcode of your site and the system will pinpoint sources of mineral waste or construction materials/products within a region or radius of your chosen distance.  

The system allows: 

Construction product manufacturers  

To identify potential sources of mineral wastes such as quarry by-products, ashes, industrial process residues, dredgings etc in your area. 

Producers of mineral waste  

To identify manufacturing facilities for bricks, concrete products, aircrete, mineral fibre insulation, cement, plasterboard and manufactured aggregates in your area. 

Policy or strategic decision makers

To view the distribution of a particular industry (eg, brickworks) or source of waste (eg sewage sludge incinerators) on a regional or nationwide basis.

 2)    Waste-product pairings database 

The waste-product pairings database includes the following main sources of information;

• General information on specific product sectors (ceramic products, cement, concrete, manufactured aggregates, insulation products),
• Information on specific wastes relevant to successful use in each of the product sectors. The available information covers, constraints on use, benefits, gives materials analysis data and further information,
• Lists of alternative materials suitable for each product sector. 

3)    Other information

The website also includes the following types of information:

• Assessment frameworks for determining  the fitness-for-purpose of mineral waste materials in the seven main target construction product sectors.
• Materials characterisation information on selected wastes
• Waste-product case studies illustrating the successful uptake of mineral wastes for fifteen waste-product pairings.
• Five waste-focused sector studies that examine the mineral fibre insulation, manufactured aggregates, cement, concrete and brick and manufacturing sectors.
• A review of available processing and treatment technologies

MINRES: who can benefit from the website ?

Who can benefit ?	How ?
Manufacturers of main MINRES product sectors (bricks, concrete products, aircrete, mineral fibre insulation, cement, plasterboard or manufactured aggregates)	Provides location information on sources of mineral waste and characterisation frameworks for mineral waste for each product sector. Find out which types of waste that have been successfully utilised in your product. Sector benefits, barriers and constraints on the use of waste materials in your sector. Case studies of successful waste exchanges.
Other construction product producers	Provides location information on sources of mineral waste. Benefits, barriers and constraints on the use of waste materials. Case studies of successful waste exchanges.
Producers of mineral wastes	Provides location information on manufacturers of main MINRES construction products. Characterisation frameworks for mineral waste for each product sector. General information on each product sector. Sector study reports for each product sector information on available processing and treatment technologies. Benefits, barriers and constraints on the use of waste materials in product sectors. Case studies of successful waste exchanges.
Policy or strategic decision makers	Provides location information on sources of mineral waste and manufacturers of main MINRES construction products. General information on each product sector. Sector study reports for each product sector.  Case studies of successful waste exchanges.  Possibilities for collection schemes/collaborative approaches between or within industries.