Rehabilitation of Aggregate Pits

The rehabilitation of an aggregate pit involves the management of the property's natural environment during and after the extraction process.  After gravel is extracted, progressive rehabilitation procedures are implemented.  At Capital, we have a dedicated team of professionals who carefully plan the rehabilitation sequence during the preliminary licensing process and proceed to follow through with those plans over the course of the pit's life.

Throughout the past 25 years Capital has successfully operated five gravel pits.  Several of the more recently acquired pits remain fully operational while older pits have now been completely rehabilitated.  Because aggregate extraction is an interim land use, when the aggregate supply from a pit has been maximized, rehabilitation of the land begins.  Capital's pits have been rehabilitated into productive wildlife habitats, wetlands, recreational areas, and agricultural lands.

In 1997 the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (OSSGA) awarded Capital with a Progressive Rehabilitation Award for work done at Capital Paving's Pit 2, located in Puslinch Township.  The extraction operation at Pit 2 began in 1990 and by 1994 rehabilitation of the land was underway.  Aggregate producers like Capital are required by law to perform progressive rehabilitation as they extract their sites.  Even though gravel is still being extracted from some areas of a pit, any areas where aggregate reserves have been exhausted must see rehabilitation begin.

By 2000, the rehabilitation of Pit 2 was complete and the area that was once an aggregate reserve was transformed into thriving farmland and a successful horse farm.  For the rehabilitation efforts put into this site, Capital was once again recognized by the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (OSSGA) with an Outstanding Achievement in Rehabilitation Award.

PIT #2 GRAVEL OPERATION
BEFORE EXTRACTION	DURING EXTRACTON
AFTER REHABILITATION

Once Pit 2 was fully rehabilitated and closed, Capital's Wellington Pit became the primary source of aggregates.

Also located in Puslinch Township, Wellington Pit saw extraction begin in 1999.  This pit remains fully operational and is still Capital's primary aggregate resource and rehabilitation of the Wellington Pit is being performed each year during the life of its operation.  The first rehabilitation phase took place in 2001. Since 2001, Wellington Pit has seen a total of 9.2 hectares undergo the rehabilitation process to return the land back to its agricultural use.

To date, over 2000 trees have been planted on the rehabilitated site and an irrigation system has been put in place to ensure proper maintenance of the young trees and newly seeded soybean fields.

In 2006 Capital was recognized by the Ontario Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (OSSGA) with a Progressive Rehabilitation Award for the work that has been done to preserve the integrity of this precious natural environment.