Sustainable Development
Our commitment to Sustainable Development is illustrated across every aspect of our operations: from employing the best construction practices and building materials, and continuous monitoring of our environmental performance, to recycling and reducing the disposal of rubble (concrete and asphalt) in landfills, and adhering to world class standards in providing a safe and a healthy work environment for our employees.
We are participating in one of the largest and most environmentally sensitive highway construction projects in Ontario. The construction of the Red Hill Expressway is a $100 million project that includes the construction of a four-lane expressway stretching north and south through the Red Hill Valley in Hamilton, Ontario. Critical areas of the project include the re-alignment of an existing creek, and the relocation of an existing landfill site. Modifications included realigning seven kilometers of creek, installing 23 storm-water quality ponds to receive runoff, and installing sewer overflow pipes to reduce discharge. Dufferin Construction was awarded the Canadian Construction Association’s 2005 Environmental Achievement Award for this project.
Our commitment to sustainability and our industry leading recycling facilities allow us to turn asphalt and concrete rubble coming from construction projects into recycled granular products that extend the life of our natural resources, and provide our customers with a wide range of dependable and economical “green” alternatives to primary aggregates.
We also partner with customers and project owners to develop onsite “green” recycling solutions for disposal and recycling of rubble resulting from the rehabilitation and redevelopment of existing structures.
Environmental Management
Dufferin Construction is committed to sustainable development, to responsible stewardship of the natural environment and to the protection of human health. The Company recognizes the environmental implications of its activities as well as its responsibility to conserve clean air, pure water, land and natural resources while optimizing the use of technology and pursuing the achievement of economic objectives.
Dufferin has a Core Environmental Management Plan (EMP) that is applied to all its construction activities. On major projects the EMP is customized to address special or unique environmental issues
At the Canadian Construction Association’s 2005 annual awards ceremony, Dufferin Construction was awarded the Environmental Achievement Award for the Red Hill Creek Expressway project in Hamilton, Ontario. The project, currently under construction, involves construction of an eight-kilometre parkway extension through an ecologically sensitive area. Following extensive consultations, the project was modified to improve environmental stewardship.
Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction
The Holcim Awards is an initiative created by the Swiss-based, Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction. The Holcim Awards is an international competition intended to celebrate innovative, future-oriented and tangible sustainable construction projects from around the globe.
With prizes awarded both regionally and globally totaling USD 2 million per 3 year competition cycle, the Holcim Awards attempt to showcase sustainable responses to technological, environmental, socio-economic and cultural issues affecting contemporary building and construction. The awards are held in collaboration with five of the world’s leading technical universities, and are open to anyone involved with projects in the area of sustainable construction-architects, planners, engineers or project owners.
For more information about the Holcim Awards please visit the Holcim Foundation website, www.holcimfoundation.org