The Washed Aggregates Trade Association (WATA) is celebrating after being named a winner of the 2026 International Green Apple Environment Awards.
Selected from more than 700 entries worldwide, WATA has been recognised among this year’s leading examples of environmental best practice. The trade association will receive the award at a ceremony in the House of Lords, London in November.
The Green Apple Awards recognise organisations that are making a significant contribution to environmental improvement through innovation, commitment and measurable action.
Andy Hill, CEO of WATA, said: “We’re delighted to receive a Green Apple Environment Award. It is great recognition not just for WATA, but for the businesses and people working across the washed aggregates sector every day.
“ When WATA was established one of our key objectives was to give this sector a stronger voice and to help people understand what actually happens in a modern aggregate wash plant. Millions of tonnes of material that might otherwise be treated as waste are being recovered, processed and returned to productive use every year.
“This award recognises WATA’s work to raise awareness of the environmental contribution of the sector and its role in supporting a more circular construction economy.”
WATA was formed in 2024 to bring greater recognition to a sector that recovers and processes millions of tonnes of construction, demolition and excavation (CDE) waste every year, transforming it into valuable recycled aggregates, sands and other mineral materials.
The trade body represents businesses across the washed aggregates sector, including wash plant operators, equipment suppliers and specialist service providers.
Its members collectively process an estimated 20.5 million tonnes of CDE waste each year, producing around 8-9 million tonnes of cleaned and sized sand, a further 8-9 million tonnes of recycled aggregate products and between 2-4 million tonnes of fine mineral materials suitable for reuse.
More than 95% of construction, demolition and excavation waste processed through aggregate wash plants is diverted from landfill. By recovering valuable materials from this waste, the sector is helping to supplement supplies of finite primary aggregates and make better use of the resources already available.
Gavin Griffiths, Chair of WATA, said:”We’re still a relatively young organisation, so to receive this recognition at this stage is a fantastic achievement. It belongs to our members, our board and everyone working across the sector to recover resources, reduce waste and keep materials in productive use.
“The UK needs a secure supply of construction materials. Washed recycled aggregates have an important complementary role to play alongside primary aggregates, helping to make better use of the resources we already have and improving the resilience of the overall supply chain.”
The Green Apple Awards are organised by The Green Organisation, an independent, non-profit organisation founded in 1994 to recognise, reward and promote environmental excellence worldwide.
For further information about the awards visit www.thegreenorganisation.info/awards
