Best Practice Action 15.5
GreenStep City Best Practices: Environmental Management
Sustainable Purchasing No. 15
Adopt environmentally preferable purchasing policies and practices to improve health and environmental outcomes.
Best Practice Action Detail
Best Practice Action 5
Set minimum sustainability standards to reduce the impact of your concrete use, asphalt, roadbed aggregate, or other construction materials.
- See MnDOT Standard Specifications for Construction for asphalt (search for Table 2360-4) and for concrete, and for compost (3890 on p. 715) that covers compost material used as a soil amendment for landscape planting or turf establishment purposes.
- See Portland, Oregon details on the financial, logistical, health and environmental benefits of warm mix asphalt use and see the MnDOT WMA Guidance document.
- See Use of Tire Derived Products in Roadway Construction (MnDOT: 2013).
- The West Coast Climate Forum provides suggestions for reducing the impact of your concrete and asphalt use.
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Follow latest MnDOT specifications for recycled glass and aggregate in roadbeds. Report use of compost in projects under BPA 17.5. |
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All paving projects incorporate recycled asphalt (RAP); report use of warm-mix asphalt; use recycled plastic manhole adjusting rings. |
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Follow MnDOT specs for RAP and shingles (asphalt shingle manufacturing scrap and/or shingle tear-off scrap) in asphalt mixtures. |
Who's doing it
Bloomington -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City of Bloomington follows the latest MnDOT specifications and intend to use the updated 2018 specs. Most of the City's projects incorporate RAP, recycled plastic manhole adjustment rings and MnDOT compost specs. We also follow MnDOT specs for RAP and shingles in asphalt.
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For more information contact:
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Partners:
Minnetonka -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2017
Implementation details:
The City of Minnetonka follows the MnDOT specifications for all public paving projects. This includes allowing RAP and shingles in asphalt mixtures.
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For more information contact:
Drew Ingvalson (City staff) | dingvalson@eminnetonka.com | 952-939-8293
Partners:
Vadnais Heights -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2017
Implementation details:
Road construction manuals refer to MnDOT Specification 2360 on the use of recycled asphalt and shingles in mix designs, allowing use of 30% RAP by weight.
All new pavements contain a percentage of RAP.
All new pavements contain a percentage of RAP.
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For more information contact:
Nick Ousky (City Staff) | nick.ousky@cityvadnaisheights.com | (651) 204 6095
Partners:
Albert Lea -
Date action report first entered:
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Implementation details:
The City of Albert Lea uses recycled asphalt for all road projects, up to 30% of the asphalt content may be RAP.
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For more information contact:
Jerry Gabrielatos (City staff) | jgabrielatos@ci.albertlea.mn.us | 507-377-4316
Partners:
Brooklyn Center -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
Project specification require re-use of recycled asphalt and aggregate
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For more information contact:
Andrew Hogg (City staff) | ahogg@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us | 763-569-3327
Partners:
Coon Rapids -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
The City recycles pavement on street reconstruction projects, grinding in place and using the recycled pavement for aggregate base material. All new pavements contain a percentage of RAP materials in the new asphalt mixes placed. The City houses the Anoka County compost site located in Coon Rapids and promotes use of the facilities.
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For more information contact:
Olivia Dorow Hovland (City Staff) | odorowhovland@coonrapidsmn.gov | 763-767-6458
Partners:
Duluth -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2010
Implementation details:
Duluth uses the MNDOT standards for recycled materials. On road reconstruction projects it is standard for the city to grind up the existing bituminous material and blend it into the new gravel base to provide a more stable base for the new road and saves the time, energy, and money required to haul away the old material and bring in new road base.
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For more information contact:
Alex Jackson, Energy Coordinator (City staff) | ajackson@DuluthMN.gov | 218-730-4433
Partners:
Fridley -
Date action report first entered:
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Implementation details:
The city requires all city contractors to follow MN-DOT specifictions and allow RAP up to 20% by weight.
Adjusting rings from HDPE are approved as an alternate to concrete adjusting rings; virgin and recycled material are both allowed.
Adjusting rings from HDPE are approved as an alternate to concrete adjusting rings; virgin and recycled material are both allowed.
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For more information contact:
Rachel Workin (City staff) | rachel.workin@fridleymn.gov | 763-572-3594
Partners:
Hutchinson -
Date action report first entered:
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Implementation details:
On all road reconstruction projects, 100% of asphalt is either reused in the project, or recycled. Generally, between 90-95% of asphalt is reused on the project to establish the aggregate roadbed, with the goal being to reuse 100% of reclaim. The remaining asphalt is recycled at the city-owned and operation Creekside facility to be used in other projects.
Additionally, 100% of concrete from reconstruction projects is recycled at the Creekside facility, and is used as bitcon and crushed concrete.
Additionally, 100% of concrete from reconstruction projects is recycled at the Creekside facility, and is used as bitcon and crushed concrete.
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For more information contact:
John Paulson (City staff) | jpaulson@ci.hutchinson.mn.us | 320-234-5682
Partners:
Lakeville -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2014
Implementation details:
The City of Lakeville follows MnDOT specifications for its road reconstruction projects. City projects incorporate recycled materials in the mix and the base. If recycled concrete is use in the base, the recycled concrete content may not exceed 40 percent by volume. In the base or wear course job mix, the maximum allowable percentage of recycled material incorporated into the mix shall not exceed 50 percent by weight of recycled material to final production mix. The City’s road reconstruction projects involve reclamation of the old asphalt and its incorporation into the base for the road.
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For more information contact:
Ann Messerschmidt (City Staff) | amesserschmidt@lakevillemn.gov | 952-985-4528
Partners:
Red Wing -
Date action report first entered:
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Implementation details:
We currently recycle 100% of asphalt pavement. About 95% goes back into new asphalt and 5% goes into roadway aggregate. We currently recycle approximately 95% of the concrete/blocks/bricks/etc. into roadbed aggregate. The remaining 5% has metal reinforcing bars/mesh that is too hard to put through the crusher. We currently reuse approximately 40% of our roadbed aggregates. It’s hard to increase this amount because of contamination with the sub-grade materials during the reconstruction process. We recycle 100% of our old manhole castings, valve boxes, metal pipes, old signs/posts, etc. The only one of these items we typically purchase as a recycled material is the asphalt, which is allowed to have up to 20% recycled material. The other items, except the metal, we recycle ourselves and use on our own projects, so the costs of salvaging, hauling, crushing, etc. are the cost of the recycled material.
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For more information contact:
Paul Drotos (City staff) | paul.drotos@ci.red-wing.mn.us | 651-410-6744
Partners:
Rochester -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
1. Aggregate -We changed our gravel or aggregate base from Class 2 to Class 5 which allows the gravel base to be salvaged/recycled aggregate mixtures MnDOT 3138
(this occurred about 4-5 years ago and is now on the plan for the next spec book update)
2. Asphalt -2360 calls for recycled base courses and first lift of an overlay on a roadway
3. Concrete pavements
most concrete pavements and sidewalks have fly ash for cementitious substitutions
4. most concrete pipes use Cement substitutions as addressed in 2461.3D are hereby modified as follows to allow:
(a) 30 percent Class F or Class C fly ash by weight
(b) 35 percent ground granulated blast furnace slag by weight
(c) 35 percent substitution with a combination of ground granulated blast furnace slag and Type F or Type C fly ash by weight
(this occurred about 4-5 years ago and is now on the plan for the next spec book update)
2. Asphalt -2360 calls for recycled base courses and first lift of an overlay on a roadway
3. Concrete pavements
most concrete pavements and sidewalks have fly ash for cementitious substitutions
4. most concrete pipes use Cement substitutions as addressed in 2461.3D are hereby modified as follows to allow:
(a) 30 percent Class F or Class C fly ash by weight
(b) 35 percent ground granulated blast furnace slag by weight
(c) 35 percent substitution with a combination of ground granulated blast furnace slag and Type F or Type C fly ash by weight
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For more information contact:
Partners:
Apple Valley -
Date action report first entered:
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Implementation details:
The City uses standard MNDOT specifications for aggregate composition percentages in surfaced roads and shoulders. A salvaged/recycled aggregate mixture shall have a minimum of 10% by mass aggregate material incorporated into the mixture.
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For more information contact:
Charless Grawe (City staff) | CGrawe@ci.apple-valley.mn.us | 952-953-2508
Partners:
Brainerd -
Date action report first entered:
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Implementation details:
The city requires all city contractors to follow MN-DOT guidelines regarding the percentage of recycled-content material in roadway construction.
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For more information contact:
Mark Ostgarden (City staff) | mostgarden@ci.brainerd.mn.us | 218-828-2309
Partners:
Crosslake -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
All roads constructed within the city are required to follow MN Department of Transportation guidelines. The main thoroughfares in the city fall under the umbrella of Crow Wing County authority. Crow Wing County engineering staff follows the MN Department of Transportation roadway standards when designing, building, and maintaining the county highway system.
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For more information contact:
Patty Norgaard (Community Volunteer) | pattynorgaard@crosslake.net | 218-692-5370
Partners: Crow Wing County
Crystal -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
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Implementation details:
Crystal has a comprehensive reconstruction program for all local streets and the bid specifications for reconstruction projects require the asphalts from the streets to be recycled in the reconstruction projects.
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For more information contact:
Mark Ray (City Staff) | mark.ray@crystalmn.gov | 6127606712
Partners:
Hastings -
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Implementation details:
Our Engineering Specifications for street projects speak to this requirement. However, it is widely variable and depends on the infrastructure challenge at hand.
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For more information contact:
Nick Egger (City staff) | negger@hastingsmn.gov | 651-480-2370
Partners:
Maplewood -
Date action report first entered:
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Implementation details:
In the Environmental purchasing policy recently passed by the city there are many different recycled-content material standards set. Examples discussed in the policy are paper, aggregate, lubricants, roads signs, and industrial oil.
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Descriptive links: http://www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=2377
For more information contact:
Shann Finwall (City Staff) | shann.finwall@maplewoodmn.gov | 651-249-2304
Partners:
New Hope -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
According to the city's Streets & Parks Supervisor, the city does not set a minimum use, but uses "Leap Asphalt" which is a class 5 recycle asphalt, for roadbed material.
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For more information contact:
Jeff Alger (City Staff) | jalger@newhopemn.gov | 763-531-5119
Partners:
Northfield -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2016
Implementation details:
All of Northfields paving projects follow MnDOT's spec's on recycled asphalt.
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For more information contact:
Beth Kallestad (City staff) | beth.kallestad@ci.northfield.mn.us | 507-645-3074
Partners:
Prairie Island Indian Community -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2018
Implementation details:
It is common practice for Prairie Island Indian Community uses recycled asphalt on gravel roads.
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For more information contact:
Leya Charles (City Staff) | Leya.Charles@piic.org | 6513854115
Partners:
Richfield -
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Implementation details:
No official policy, but it is common practice. Contractor specs. The entire Met Sewer Project was paved using 100% recycled asphalt.
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For more information contact:
Olivia Wycklendt (City Staff) | owycklendt@richfieldmn.gov | 6128619789
Partners:
Saint Anthony -
Date action report first entered:
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Implementation details:
The City of St. Anthony considers recycled-content materials as equals to virgin consumer products when purchasing.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Encourging the use of recycled materials.
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For more information contact:
Jay Hartman (City staff) | jay.hartman@ci.saint-anthony.mn.us | 612-782-3314
Partners:
Shoreview -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City uses standard MNDOT specifications for aggregate composition percentages in surfaced roads and shoulders. A salvaged/recycled aggregate mixture shall have a minimum of 10% by mass aggregate material incorporated into the mixture.
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For more information contact:
Ellen Brenna (City staff) | ebrenna@shoreviewmn.gov | 651-490-4665
Partners:
Greenstep Advisor
Alison Cameron, Sustainable Purchasing Coordinator, MN Pollution Control Agency: 651-757-2195, alison.cameron@state.mn.us, www.pca.state.mn.us/epp