Leaching is the process by which a substance is extracted from a “carrier” material and then dissolved into a liquid. In our industry, traditional cold patch is the carrier material and the petroleum derivatives are what are dissolved into groundwater. The petroleum is then carried downward and outward through the surrounding soil. This contributes to the serious problem of Petroleum Contaminated Soils (PCS) that require extensive cleanup efforts worldwide. This leaching can also contribute to the contamination of underground aquifers. The petroleum contamination in soil and groundwater are real threats to health and the environment. By replacing petroleum derivatives with biodegradable, sustainable solvents, GreenPatch removes the possibility of contamination by leaching.

We further our contribution to reducing soil and water pollution by using Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) as a key ingredient in GreenPatch. Mining can result in unnaturally high concentrations of chemicals such as arsenic and sulfuric acid over a significant area. Large amounts of water produced from mine drainage, mine cooling, aqueous extraction and other mining processes increases the potential for these chemicals to contaminate ground and surface water and the surrounding soil. By eliminating our need for virgin sand and stone we greatly reduce the amount of mining needed for our industry.