The efficient use and conservation of aggregates and other resources is achieved by putting them to their highest valued use, maximizing the use of recycled content by looking for alternatives to using high quantities of virgin aggregate and, in the medium to long term, developing optimal transportation networks that factor in both financial and environmental costs.
Core Requirements
a) Applicant or one or more persons employed or engaged by the applicant has a track record of promoting the efficient use of both the resources (energy, water, etc.) consumed in its operations and aggregates and has set specific targets, consistent with industry best practices, and is monitoring progress towards its own:
- use of renewable materials (including energy) over non-renewable materials
- resource efficiency – using fewer raw materials
- re-use of materials
- use of recycled materials (including recycled aggregate materials and concrete)
- maximizing the use of existing sites
- optimizing transportation network efficiency
b) The applicant has identified any regulatory and policy challenges to the implementation of this Principle. Two examples of such challenges are: unnecessarily restrictive recycled aggregate content building code specifications, at regional authority and municipal levels, for concrete infrastructure projects; and a lack of adequate infrastructure to support financially viable, rail or water transport as alternatives to the current trucking system. The applicant works to educate government and stakeholders and to suggest solutions for addressing such challenges with a goal to overcoming the challenges.
Interpretation note:
It is understood that an operator may not always be able to set hard numerical targets for the efficient use of resources for all aspects of its operations and that in some circumstances, continuous improvement targets may be all that can be set. Parties involved in developing these draft standards stress provincial action is needed to increase the recycled content of aggregate based building materials.