The aggregate industry is deeply committed to environmental stewardship and is a critical part of Ontario's circular economy.
Rehabilitation
The aggregate industry is committed to successful and comprehensive land rehabilitation. Rehabilitation of a pit or quarry is the process of restoring the land from which aggregate has been extracted to either its former use or to a new use or condition compatible with the surrounding landscape. Pit and quarry operators progressively rehabilitate their sites; this process minimizes the open areas within a pit or quarry, prevents soil erosion, and eliminates double handling of soil materials. Once aggregate is extracted from a pit or quarry, the site is rehabilitated into productive wildlife habitat, wetlands, golf courses, recreational parks, urban uses, conservation lands, forestry or agriculture. There are countless examples of former pits and quarries that are now community assets.
Recycled Aggregate
OSSGA advocates for the re-use of recovered aggregate materials from demolition, road reconstruction, and infrastructure projects in new construction. Across the province, millions of tonnes of such recycled aggregate are stockpiled, awaiting use in road construction. Recycling concrete and asphalt is beneficial both environmentally and economically. It helps preserve non-renewable resources, reduces the need for new quarries and pits, and lowers energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from long-distance truck hauling.
OSSGA recently partnered with TARBA to promote Recycled Crushed Aggregate.
Water Management
Aggregate producers are primarily water handlers and not consumers. Water usage at pits and quarries is less than 2 % of the total water taken in Ontario and over 90% of this water is returned to the local watershed. The handling and use of water in an aggregate operation is regulated by multiple legislative requirements which require, among other things, the submission of detailed scientific studies prior to any approval being granted. Once extraction at a quarry is completed, the site is rehabilitated creating water assets and enhancing the natural environment in ways that help mitigate the local impacts of climate change.
Excess Soil
Pits and quarries rely on the importation of excess soil to rehabilitate their site or to be used for other beneficial reuse purposes. For a pit or quarry operator to import soil, it must be approved under the ARA and stored in accordance with the Excess Soil Rules. Aggregate producers follow Best Management Practices when importing soil to ensure that the imported soil does not cause an adverse environmental impact. OSSGA supports the use of a QP using site-specific information when determining potential reuse options for excess soil.
Net Zero
OSSGA and its members are committed to reducing their carbon footprint to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The aggregate industry plays a critical role in Ontario’s circular economy and is already a driving force contributing to carbon neutrality in many ways. A plan to reach net-zero aggregates will capture these long-term and continuing business practices and provide guidance around practical approaches and methods to make day-to-day aggregate processes sustainable.
EPDs
OSSGA is in the process of exploring options to assist the membership with Lifecycle Assessment (LCAs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for stone, sand and gravel.