This March, National Engineering Month (NEM) Ontario is spotlighting leaders within Ontario’s engineering community who are driving innovation, sustainability, and growth. As we explore themes such as environmental sustainability and infrastructure in the built environment, we sat down with Raly Chakarova, Executive Director of the Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA), to discuss the importance of Recycled Crushed Aggregates (RCA) in road construction and how engineers can contribute to a greener future.
Interview with Raly Chakarova, Executive Director, TARBA
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your role at TARBA?
I’m Raly Chakarova, the Executive Director of the Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA). I’ve been in this role for just over a year and a half. TARBA is the collective bargaining agent for unionized contractors in the Greater Toronto Area and Simcoe County. We negotiate collective agreements with LiUNA Local 183 and Operating Engineers Local 793. Beyond labor relations, TARBA advocates for best practices and high construction standards within the road building industry.
What motivated TARBA’s focus on Recycled Crushed Aggregates (RCA)?
The push for more sustainable building practices drove the RCA initiative. The demolition process generates a significant amount of material that can be processed, cleaned, and reused in new construction projects. The alternative is sending it to landfills, which is not only wasteful but also not a viable long-term solution. Using RCA reduces landfill waste, lowers project costs, and cuts carbon emissions, making it an obvious choice for sustainable infrastructure development.
How does RCA align with NEM Ontario’s 2025 themes?
RCA aligns strongly with environmental sustainability, but it also intersects with innovation and infrastructure. Our goal is to highlight circular economy opportunities within the construction sector. Many decision-makers aren’t aware of RCA’s applications, so we focus on education and providing technical resources to empower engineers, municipal staff, and project owners to make informed decisions that support sustainability.
What are the key environmental and economic benefits of using RCA?
There are three main benefits:
- Preserving Natural Resources: Using RCA reduces the need to extract new materials from pits and quarries, extending the life of these finite, non-renewable resources.
- Reducing Carbon Emissions: Transportation accounts for 60% of aggregate costs. RCA supply points are typically within 5-10 km of project sites, whereas newly quarried aggregates often travel 35-70 km. This significantly reduces both emissions and transportation costs.
- Lowering Construction Costs: By using RCA, municipalities and developers can achieve cost savings without compromising quality or performance.
Despite these benefits, only 7% of Ontario’s annual aggregate use comes from recycled sources. What challenges contribute to this low adoption rate?
That 7% is largely used by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, which has been a leader in using RCA for our 400-series highways. The challenge is at the municipal level, where procurement policies and specifications can vary greatly. Many municipalities are unaware of RCA’s benefits or lack the technical guidance to incorporate it confidently. Our advocacy focuses on providing research and success stories to demonstrate that RCA meets, and sometimes exceeds, the performance of virgin aggregates.
Key Facts on RCA Adoption & Infrastructure Needs:
- Ontario municipalities face a $52 billion state of good repair (SOGR) backlog while also managing population growth and climate challenges.
- Over the next 20 years, Ontario will need more than 4 billion tonnes of stone, sand, and gravel to meet infrastructure demands.
- The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area produces only 25 million tonnes of aggregate but consumes 73 million tonnes, creating a deficit.
- A 20% RCA recycling rate at the municipal level could save $260 million annually and cut emissions equivalent to removing 15 million gas-powered cars from the road every year.
Can you share a success story where RCA was used effectively?
One of the best examples is the Ontario Ministry of Transportation which has used recycled aggregate in the maintenance and expansion of our 400-series highways. For example, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation used more than 300,000 tonnes of recycled aggregate when widening Highway 400 between Major Mackenzie Drive and King Road, saving taxpayers $1.2 million. Toronto Pearson Airport is another great example, which re-used 263,000 tonnes of concrete and asphalt from the demolition of Terminal 1 for the new apron. We are hosting a webinar on March 18th to highlight York Region’s VivaNext rapid transit project, where more than 200,000 tons of recycled concrete were used. These examples prove RCA’s cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and high performance.
What’s next for TARBA in promoting RCA?
We’re continuing to focus on education and advocacy. Engineers need to feel confident using RCA and incorporating it into municipal policies. We’re also working with the Ontario Government to advocate for standardized specifications across municipalities to ensure consistency and wider adoption of RCA.
What’s one key takeaway you’d like the engineering community to remember about RCA?
It’s not a matter of if we will use RCA—it’s when. The Greater Toronto Area is depleting its primary aggregate resources, and the further we need to transport materials, the higher the costs and environmental impacts. The future of construction is sustainable, and engineers have the power to drive that change now.
31 days. 31 Reasons to Get Involved in National Engineering Month.
National Engineering Month is your chance to connect, learn, and be inspired by the incredible work happening in Ontario’s engineering community. Attend events, engage with industry leaders, and discover how engineering shapes the world around us. Find an event near you and join the celebration.
