Sustainability

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Quarry

Aggregates and industrial sand producers are proactive members of their communities who operate sustainable businesses, both during production and at the end of a quarry’s life cycle. Operators ensure closed sites are responsibly reclaimed and add community benefit once extraction is completed. Reclaimed quarries can take many different forms, depending on where they are located, including farmland, parks, wildlife habitat areas, water reservoirs, community developments, recreation spots, nature preserves, alternative energy generation and more. 

 

NSSGA members are effective stewards of the land. They value innovation that enhances sustainability throughout the supply chain and create state-of-the-art solutions that improve our homes, businesses, and schools. NSSGA supports incentive-based programs and a flexible sustainability strategy that allows our members to increase their operations’ sustainability during extraction and reclamation based on the individual needs of each business. 

Aggregates in Environmental Applications

Construction aggregates are used in many environmental applications such as landscaping, erosion control, water filtration systems, wastewater, and sewage control, and drinking water. NSSGA members are responsible stewards of water resources, and regularly undertake land reclamation activities that include wetland restoration, creation, and enhancement, as well as wetland mitigation banking for internal and external use. Land reclamation activities conducted by NSSGA members have long been known for their ability to create much-needed additional flood storage capacity.

 

Water Uses of Aggregates Include: 

  • Filtration
  • Sewage treatment
  • Wastewater control
  • Septic tank leaching fields
  • Infiltration for aquifier replenishment
  • Acid Neutralization
  • Streams
  • Lakes
  • Concrete and Asphalt Construction for Public Works Infrastructure
  • Sewage treatment plants
  • Water purification plants
  • Dams, reservoirs and water supply
  • Utility lines (water, sewerage, electrical)

Biodiversity

Aggregates and industrial sand producers are proactive members of their communities who operate sustainable businesses, both during production and at the end of a quarry’s life cycle. Operators ensure closed sites are responsibly reclaimed and add community benefits once extraction is completed. Reclaimed quarries can take many different forms depending on where they are located, including farmland, parks, wildlife habitat areas, water reservoirs, community developments, recreation spots, nature preserves, alternative energy generation and more. NSSGA members are effective stewards of the land. They value innovation that enhances sustainability throughout the supply chain and create state-of-the-art solutions that improve our homes, businesses, and schools. NSSGA supports incentive-based programs and a flexible sustainability strategy that allows our members to increase their operations’ sustainability during extraction and reclamation based on the individual needs of each business.

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Deer

Since 2008, NSSGA partnered with Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) to advance efforts in land and wildlife conservation. Wildlife Habitat Council promotes and certifies habitat conservation and management on corporate lands through partnerships and education. WHC Conservation Certification was developed to drive change through strict requirements and rigorous third-party evaluation. Currently, NSSGA has six certified WHC projects, entailing three forest projects; four grassland projects; four avian species projects; three pollinator projects; and three education and awareness projects. With our certified programs, there have been sixty-five acres of wetlands and ponds improved for certification and 300 native wildflowers and grasses planted. We have over 1,000 students involved in our programs and 3,600 acres of land used for certification. These programs operate on a national scale taking place in states across the US. 

Farm Bill Reauthorization

NSSGA will be working to enact legislative priorities in the 2023 Farm Bill, which sets policy and funding for all federal engagement with our farm and food ecosystem. We are seeking to promote research and development on the use of aggregate biproducts in topsoil restoration, fertilizer manufacturing and as a best practice for water retention and carbon capture. Doing so will create new opportunities to promote soil health and drive sustainability across the marketplace.

Improving Our Communities

Stone, sand and gravel materials are needed in large quantities for the construction of many environmental safeguards, such as the foundations of wind turbines, sea walls and other infrastructure projects needed to respond to the effects of climate change in localized areas. The vast prevalence and utilization of aggregates are a testament to the many time-tested benefits they provide including being low-cost, reliable, durable, and environmentally sound.

 

When aggregates operations cease, these pits and quarries become valuable reclaimed lands, which include:

  • Parks
  • Residential neighborhoods
  • Functional wetlands
  • Resorts
  • Arboretums
  • Industrial sites
  • Geologic study sites
  • School grounds
  • Gardens
  • Wildlife habitats
  • Golf courses
  • Office parks
  • Beaches
  • Zoos
  • Farms
     

Read the Sustainability Stories of Our Members