News Aggregates Roads & Paving
OAPC transitioning Trillium Awards into third-party certification program

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – The Ontario Asphalt Pavement Council (OAPC) has taken the first steps toward transitioning their Trillium Awards recognition program for hot mix asphalt plant operations into a third-party asphalt certification program.

A “Request for Quotations, Framework Plan for the Development of Asphalt Certification Program” was issued by the OAPC on Nov. 24, and formally announced at the council’s fall seminar on Nov. 30 in Mississauga. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 16, 2024.

With the changes still in their planning stages, the transition could take up to five years to implement. The OAPC is currently using the term Ontario Asphalt Plant Certification to differentiate this future change from the Trillium Awards, which will remain in effect until this new certification is introduced.

Since 2002, the Trillium Awards have recognized asphalt plants based on highly rigorous criteria surrounding appearance, safety and operational measures. Awards are granted for a three-year period before reapplication is necessary.

Discussions began 18 months ago regarding the potential benefits of an outside entity overseeing the certification process, according to Mike Deckert, chair of OAPC’s plant and paving committee.

In response, an ad hoc Trillium Awards committee was created, comprised of industry stakeholders and municipal partners to discuss the opportunities and challenges that a third-party asphalt plant certification would have.

As part of this process, the committee surveyed municipal partners, yielding positive results.  Recommendations based on this research and conversations were presented to OAPC executives and directors this summer.

The OAPC will keep all members fully informed as this transition moves forward, Deckert said.

Since its launch, 111 Trillium Awards and 169 renewals have been issued, including nine new awards and 22 renewals in 2023.