Minimizing Our Impact on Local Communities

St Marys follows strict procedures for minimizing the impact of operations on neighbouring residents and communities:

• We follow Best Management Practices to reduce any noise and vibrations created by aggregate extraction, specifically from blasting and the operation of industrial machinery.
• We water unpaved roads and sweep paved roads regularly at our facilities to control and reduce the spread of dust.
• We have a trucking policy that includes rules regarding local speed limits, not arriving before operational hours, obeying all road signage and keeping vehicles in good operating condition.
• Careful groundwater monitoring procedures are followed at all quarry and pit sites.
• Tree screens around our sites reduce dust and noise, while berms (earthen embankments) ornamented with shrubs and decorative stones shield pit operations from adjacent roads.
• St Marys follows the "3 Rs" principle (reduce, reuse, recycle) in the handling of solid waste. This covers all solid wastes generated from and processed at all sites and offices, including scrap metals, recycling of waste asphalt and concrete, waste from office equipment and paper biosolids.
• We provide employees with the training to set high standards and achieve continuous improvement in environmental performance.

St Marys has earned the respect of people living close to our operations through open communication and consultation, and by acting immediately on any community issues that arise. Often community feedback has led us to become better operators. For example, at our Aberfoyle McNally Pit, noise concerns resulted in our replacing beeping reverse lights on aggregate loaders with silent strobe lights.

We are proud of our environmental record and remain committed to partnering with local residents to develop strategies aimed at protecting the environment. Over the past four years, St Marys has received 25 awards for rehabilitation and environmental achievement from the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association.