Latest news with #RecycledCrushedAggregates
Cision Canada
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Cision Canada
CAA Joins Growing Industry Coalition Advocating for Increased Use of Recycled Crushed Aggregates in Ontario Infrastructure Projects
TORONTO, Aug. 12, 2025 /CNW/ - The push for using recycled asphalt and concrete is gaining momentum as the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) joins nine other influential organizations representing civil infrastructure leaders, builders, suppliers, and engineers, united behind the goal of increasing the use of Recycled Crushed Aggregates (RCA) in public infrastructure projects across Ontario. With CAA on board, the coalition that launched earlier this year is advocating for policy changes that will incentivize and mandate the use of RCA in projects like roads, subdivisions, highways, bridges, and tunnels, and, above all, harmonize municipal specifications through provincial standards to build greener, more cost-effective, and high-performing public infrastructure that residents can rely on. "As the voice of Canadian motorists, CAA supports smarter infrastructure investments that improve road safety, durability, and reliability," said Lauren Fisher, Manager of Government and Stakeholder Relations for CAA South Central Ontario. "The use of recycled crushed aggregates is proven to deliver reliable performance, while cutting costs and carbon emissions. We're proud to join this important coalition and support a mandate that will benefit drivers, taxpayers, and the environment." "CAA's support underscores the fact that this isn't just a construction issue—it's a public interest issue. Using more recycled materials in infrastructure projects can safeguard the long-term expansion of our transportation networks while preserving non-renewable resources and reducing carbon emissions, waste, and traffic congestion," said Raly Chakarova, Executive Director of the Toronto Area Road Builders Association (TARBA). "Beyond an increased use of sustainable materials, standardizing construction specifications and contracts at the municipal level can go further to rein in rising construction costs, speed up project delivery, and ensure higher quality outcomes." RCA is produced by reclaiming and recycling concrete and asphalt that would otherwise end up in landfills. Since RCA is available at a fraction of the distance to new construction sites, the need for long-haul heavy truck transport is reduced, along with carbon emissions, project costs, traffic congestion, and wear and tear on roads. Despite being a proven and high-performing material already used in 400-series highways, Toronto Pearson Airport, and many road and transit projects across the province, RCA use in municipal projects is severely limited by some existing local policies. If Ontario municipalities mandate just 20% RCA use in their infrastructure projects, they can save more than $260 million annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 15 million gas cars from the road every year. The 10 coalition members include: To learn more about the campaign and the benefits of RCA, visit About CAA The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit auto club offering roadside services, automotive care, travel, and insurance. There are more than 2.6 million CAA members in Ontario and over 6 million members in Canada. For more than 100 years, CAA has advocated on behalf of its members at all three levels of government on issues related to transportation infrastructure, traffic safety, consumer protection, and mobility. Three clubs currently operate in Ontario - South Central Ontario, North & East Ontario, and Niagara. About TARBA The Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA) represents unionized contractors building multi-modal transportation infrastructure, including roads, transit, highways, bike lanes, and sidewalks, in the Greater Toronto Area and Simcoe County. TARBA advocates for policies and practices that promote safe, cost-efficient, and sustainable infrastructure development. SOURCE Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA)
Cision Canada
09-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Engineers Examine Performance of Recycled Crushed Aggregate in Ontario Infrastructure
TORONTO, May 9, 2025 /CNW/ - As part of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) professional development series, engineers gathered to discuss how the increased use of Recycled Crushed Aggregates (RCA) can lower construction project costs and carbon emissions. The session, held on May 8, 2025, emphasized the need to expand and maintain Ontario's transportation infrastructure to keep up with continued population growth and an increasing state of good repair backlog -- and how using RCA can deliver more from municipal capital budgets while also helping them reach their net-zero targets. A recording is now available to the public. Dr. Salman Bhutta, Principal Engineer at Engtec Consulting, delivered a keynote presentation to share findings from Engtec's 2024 research report demonstrating RCA gradation equivalency to primary aggregates. He told attendees the testing demonstrated comparable performance in terms of load-bearing support in pavement structures and no compromise to the structural integrity of the pavement when using crushed concrete. The research concluded there is no need to increase layer thickness when using crushed concrete in pavement structures. "Over the last 20-25 years, there has been significant improvement in these materials, including both their quality and quality control processes," said Dr. Bhutta. "RCA is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to primary aggregates. It supports sustainability goals, without compromising structural integrity or long-term performance." RCA is reclaimed asphalt pavement and/or concrete, readily available from the millions of tonnes removed from construction sites across Ontario as roads are repaired, bridges are maintained, and other critical infrastructure is replaced and expanded. Raly Chakarova, Executive Director of the Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA) shared with attendees that the industry has long supported the use of RCA as a way to lower carbon emissions associated with long-haul trucking, reduce pollution and traffic congestion, extend the life of non-renewable resources, and promote a circular economy. "Concrete and asphalt have already met performance specifications when originally used. When reclaimed, they undergo an additional rigorous process of crushing, screening, testing, and quality control to be repurposed for their application as construction material in new projects," said Ms. Chakarova. "Use in Ontario and internationally has shown that RCA is a high-performance material, with numerous construction projects and studies concluding that its geotechnical properties are equal and sometimes superior to primary aggregates." 180 million tonnes of aggregatesare used annually in Ontario, with more than 50 percent used in roadways, bridges, and tunnel construction. However, less than seven percent currently come from recycled sources, with much attributed to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation in the construction and maintenance of its 400-series highways. TARBA is leading a coalition of industry associations to increase awareness and adoption of RCA across Ontario. Through its campaign, the coalition is calling for: Including RCA use as part of the tenders for roads, bridges, sewer and watermains, subdivisions, and transit projects; Aligning municipal standards with Ontario specification OPSS1010 to reduce administrative burden, ensure quality and compliance, and encourage wider adoption; and Collaborating with industry to build capacity and confidence on quality control measures and a wide variety of applications for RCA. The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) is a coalition member. "Advances in material science and recycling technologies have demonstrated that RCA performs comparably to traditional alternatives in many applications. Most significantly, the use of RCA reduces the demand for valuable finite natural resources, such as sand, gravel, and crushed stone," said Sandro Perruzza, CEO, OSPE. "The use of RCA in engineering designs will dramatically reduce the amount of waste going to landfill while decreasing road congestion and the associated carbon emissions, both favourable outcomes for sustainable development. The OSPE is a proud coalition member and is happy to endorse using RCA in construction to build Ontario's future." For more information about RCA, visit
