Close to Market The location of aggregate sources close to the GTA benefits both the environment and people of Ontario and for this reason having fewer heavy trucks traveling fewer kilometers is the Provincial goal.(Posted Jan,2007)
The location of aggregate sources close to the GTA benefits both the environment and people of Ontario and for this reason having fewer heavy trucks traveling fewer kilometers is the Provincial goal.
The proposed Burlington Quarry extension of Nelson Aggregate Co., if approved, will supply 36 million tonnes of crushed stone aggregate to the western Greater Toronto Area. The Nelson quarry is one of the closest sources of high quality aggregate to the GTA market.
If that same quantity of aggregate had to come from the next closest area of significant aggregate reserves (about 30km further), the additional truck transport to get the same amount of aggregate delivered to where it is needed in the market, would result in:
95,000 tonnes of extra greenhouse gases
34.5 million litres of extra fuel consumption
$162 million in extra transport costs (at today’s cost)
72 million extra heavy truck kilometers
All of those impacts would be incurred just to transport the same quantity of aggregate to the same market area from a bit further away.
As stated above, making this supply of Nelson aggregate available in Halton will eliminate extra transport distance and prevent 95,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases from being sent into the atmosphere. To put that into perspective, preventing this unnecessary emission is the same as:
keeping 1,760 cars off the roads every year 1
supplying electricity to 9,530 homes 2
planting 536,000 trees 3
purchasing $3.2 million of wind power certificates 3
eliminating 466 million kilometersof car driving 3
Again, the greenhouse gas impact would be incurred just to transport the same 36 million tonnes of aggregate to the same market area from a bit further away.
As well, reducing the haulage distance to market reduces the number of trucks on the road, reduces road congestion, and saves wear and tear on the roads. As well, the economic impact of significantly increased transport costs is avoided.
The Ontario Provincial Policy Statement 2005 says:
“2.5.2.1 As much of the mineral aggregate resources as is realistically possible shall be made available as close to markets as possible. “
Having aggregate resources close to market makes good environmental sense.
.JPG)