Sustainable road strategy minimizes waste from road construction and maintenance

BRAMPTON, ON. (Nov. 1, 2012) –   The Region of Peel has been testing the use of recycled aggregates in road construction and road maintenance projects. Over the last five years, an average of 5,000 tonnes of asphalt millings was recycled each year. The Region benefits financially from the use of cold-in-place recycling, a process that costs up to 30 per cent less than using virgin asphalt.

Cold in-place recycling reuses the existing asphalt pavement. The technique grinds the upper road surface, mixes it with asphalt emulsion and lays it right back down without the use of heat. This process generally uses 100 per cent reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP). The Region of Peel has paved 110 lane kilometres using this process over the past 15 years.

The Region recently hosted a recycled aggregate workshop, that brought together leading experts from the aggregate industry, engineers, and governments to explore best practices and share experiences. 

“Recycled aggregates are the way of the future so I encourage all governments to consider it when feasible for the benefits to the environment and the cost savings,” said Mayor Marolyn Morrison of Caledon. “Caledon is one of the top aggregate producing municipalities in Ontario and a big user of recycled aggregates so we see the impact and benefits. Using less virgin aggregates means fewer trips from heavy vehicles hauling aggregates, minimizing wear on our roads. I’m pleased that the Region’s sustainable road strategy encourages the use of recycled aggregates.

”The Region will be looking at using crushed clean sourced recycled concrete in its road base in sections of upcoming road projects including King Street, The Gore Road and Mississauga Road. Transportation staff will monitor the strength and durability of recycled concrete as compared to virgin aggregate.“Peel’s transportation staff continues to bring innovative solutions to the forefront of our work that benefit the environment and the taxpayers,” said Damian Albanese, Director of Transportation. “We will not sacrifice quality or longevity, so any new process we employ must meet or exceed the standards associated with traditional methods. The Region is keen on the benefits recycled aggregates can provide and will continue to use it in more projects. A working group is being formed to explore further applications for recycled aggregates and best practices.

”For more information on Peel’s sustainable road strategy, please e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The Regional Municipality of Peel was incorporated in 1974 on the principle that certain community and infrastructure services are most cost-effectively administered over a larger geographic area. The Region of Peel serves more than one million residents in the Cities of Mississauga and Brampton and the Town of Caledon.For more information on the Region of Peel, please call 905-791-7800, or visit www.peelregion.ca.

Posted on the Peel Region Website, November 1, 2012

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