How do we implement "green" initiatives throughout our company?
People, Policy & Procedures, Products, Actions, and Certifications
People
- Full- time Environmental Compliance Officer
- Resident Licensed Professional Engineer with over 15 years of experience designing, inspecting, and monitoring soil erosion and stormwater management plans
- Seven NPDES Certified Storm Water Operators ensure the facility is meeting state requirements, minimizing the risks and impact of stormwater pollution at plant locations and on job sites
- Certified Visual Emissions Evaluator to ensure operations meet Federal Method 9 requirements for dust control and other visual emissions
- Two State Certified 'Class A' Fuel Tank Operators who monitor, document, and ensure our facilities' fuel tanks remain secure, safe, and environmentally sound
Policies & Procedures
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Air Quality Permit – Asphalt Operations
- Longer stacks than required to reduce emissions and odor to the community
- Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Air Permit – Crushing Operations
- Fugitive Dust Plan to reduce dust during operations; water spray bars to control dust and all equipment is NSPS certified to operate under dust-producing thresholds
- EPA required Pollution Incident Prevention Plan (PIPP)
- Prevention and containment of spill hazards
- Enclosed Asphalt Load Out area to reduce air emissions from the load-out procedure
- Facility Fuel Tanks
- Larger fuel tanks are equipped with ongoing computer system monitoring and reporting
- Reduce Fuel consumption through 6 point check system on the fleet of vehicles
- Engine Tuning I: Reduce engines' top speed
- Engine Tuning II: Program engines to shut off after 10 minutes idle time
- Change Tire Type: Install super single tires with reduced rolling friction versus standard dual tire system
- Properly Inflate Tire: Maximum pressure on the tire side may not be best for the vehicle. Check manual
- Equipment Changes: Purchase smooth sided trailers when updating fleet to reduce wind resistance and raise fuel efficiency
- Scheduling Efficiencies: Move equipment to job site rather than back to the yard during interim
Products, Actions, and Certifications
- Recycle used oil from our equipment for heating
- Testing to ensure no heavy metals, reducing emissions into the air
- Our strict standards use ¼ of the heavy metal limits allowed by the state
- 2008 Michigan Recycling Coalition Recycler of the Year
- Warm Mix Asphalt -- Reduces fuel consumption and decreases the production of greenhouse gases
- Recrushed Asphalt Pavement (RAP)
- Asphalt road surfaces hauled from existing job sites, recrushed and used in new asphalt mix designs.
- Recrushed Concrete Gravel
- Concrete sidewalks, brick, block, and clay pipe crushed into a reusable gravel product for a parking lot or driveway subgrade foundations.
- Slag and Fly Ash in Concrete
- LEED Certification credits using recycled manufacturing cast-off materials in concrete mix designs
- Partner, Carbon Climate Concrete (C3)
- Carbon Dioxide offset program reduces emissions by substituting portland cement in concrete production
- Concrete Washout Containment Areas
- Lined concrete washout area to contain sediment settling and reuse washout water
- Switched crushing operation at pit location from diesel to electric, reducing overall air quality emissions
- Café has eco-friendly serving products - compostable to-go cups and containers with reduced energy production used in the manufacturing process
- Reuse paper as scratch pads prior to recycling
- Implemented plastic, glass, metal, paper, and cardboard company recycling program
- Replaced cleaning products with more environmentally friendly products
- Use environmentally-friendly and biodegradable citrus soap in all asphalt trucks as a release agent
