Environment
The Dolomite Group is committed to good environmental stewardship with all our operations. Dolomite takes a proactive approach to ensure our operations are carried out in a responsible, environmentally friendly manner to minimize our impact on the environment. Dolomite collaborates with its sister companies to review and identify the latest environmental topics and trends that need to be addressed. We use and discuss best management practices that would benefit our company to ensure compliance. Environmental reviews are conducted yearly at all of our sites to help gauge and identify any potential issues that may need to be addressed or changed within our operations.
Our Hot Mix Asphalt division used 264,297 tons of Recycle Asphalt Pavement (RAP) during the 2017 season in its asphalt mixes. We have increased our RAP% in our asphalt mix designs -- in some we have achieved 30% RAP use. RAM is continually looking at our processes to see where we can reduce material, or substitute more efficient material in their place.
Rochester Asphalt Materials always review our manufacturing process, and is looking for ways to help reduce our carbon footprint. We try to run the Asphalt plants efficiently, shut down when we do not need to run, and try to keep a consistent temperature for the mix. Our burners are tuned-up at the beginning of each season to ensure maximum efficiency when running.
Rochester Asphalt Materials was able to receive the Diamond Achievement Commendation for Excellence and the Diamond Achievement Sustainable Commendation for its Penfield Batch plant from the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA). The Penfield Batch plant demonstrated good corporate citizenship and neighbor friendly operations to receive this award.
Dolomite's stone plants produced 289,489 tons of reprocessed Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) for sale during the 2017 season. Our plants still produced Recycled Concrete Stone (RCS) on a limited basis for the 2017 season.
All waste concrete is put through a Reclaimer and run back into our plants. It is poured into block forms for retaining walls used in landscaping or turned into R-stone for resale.
Our company has a computer and electronics recycling program. During the 2017 season, we were able to recycle 1,447lbs of electronics.
Dolomite maintenance shops were able to recycle 552 tires and 206 batteries during the 2017 season. In addition, our maintenance shops continue to burn used oil generated from our equipment oil changes.
The Dolomite Group continues to operate a 5S program where locations are able to recycle steel. With the money from this recycling, we are able to invest in needed tools and equipment for the facilities. This program is not limited to recycling steel; locations also review opportunities to perform housekeeping work to improve the appearance of our facilities.
The environmental processes at The Dolomite Group is always evolving to match the pace with current world conditions and views.