Is Construction Waste in Toronto, Ontario being Recycled or Can the Province do More – read here!

A recent study published analyzing Ontario municipalities’ treatment of construction waste demonstrates there’s a mix of approaches, some working well and others not so much.

Construction waste varies from gravel to concrete, sand, asphalt, and more. Beyond general construction materials, millions of tonnes of reusable asphalt and concrete aggregate are produced every year in Ontario.

Though the majority of it is used in construction and road development projects, regional policies can sometimes make it more difficult to recycle these sorts of aggregate products. Sadly, the result is that millions of tonnes of otherwise recyclable aggregate is being tossed into landfills, which is a taxpayer expense.

In Toronto, we are a region that produces a high amount of construction waste. At any time, there’s dozens of major construction projects at various stages of completion. Aggregate materials recycling is a necessity in this environment. We have the potential to reduce wear and tear on our public roads, conserve raw aggregate resources in an environmentally-friendly method, and to ensure our landfills remain reserved for only materials deemed absolutely necessary.

Large municipalities in Ontario predominantly prohibit or restrict the use of recycled aggregate materials for major road and/or infrastructure projects. Subsequently, the majority of Ontario’s large municipalities also either do not allow or only partially allow the use of recycled materials in the base and fill below pavement, on unpaved shoulders, and concrete slabs. Considering this, the only place where municipalities unequivocally agree aggregate materials can be used is in building construction access roads and/or bicycle paths.

This has created an unfair system of construction where so many materials are being thrown into landfills, instead of being used in the repair and maintenance of our roads and in infrastructure projects.

If Ontario is serious about its long-term environmental commitment, this is an area of recycling and waste management to look at. Toronto, in particular, is not making use of aggregate materials like it could be. There is room for growth and improvement, and it’s our hope that in the years to come, Toronto does not sit on its laurels and that we as a society continue to chase environmentally sustainable methods of construction waste reuse and recycling.

Though Toronto tops the list of municipalities in Ontario with the best aggregate recycling use, there’s still more work to be done in the GTA and abroad. According to a recent report published by the Toronto and Area Road Builders Association, the worst offenders in the province are the Niagara Region, the Durham Region, Peel Region, Oshawa, and Mississauga.

Why regions are not making full use of its aggregate construction waste varies in reasoning. Perceptions of weak performance or lack of reliability are popular. Though public safety is top priority, in this day and age, the view that new construction material is safer than recycled materials is not accurate. Needless to say, perception needs to change and we, as a province, need to do better.

As one of Toronto’s top waste management and recycling companies, Core Mini Bins wants an environmentally sustainable for ourselves and our families. We encourage municipalities to use safe, high quality aggregate materials in the building and maintenance of infrastructure. There’s opportunities here to decrease costs and increase efficiencies. Let’s make it happen!