Industry News

Asphalt

Sky Quarry enters LOI with Southwind RAS to advance shingle recycling

Sky Quarry Inc., a Woods Cross, Utah-based energy solutions company focused on the asphalt shingle recycling industry, has entered into a nonbinding letter of intent (LOI) with Southwind RAS LLC to explore a strategic collaboration aimed at advancing shingle recycling in Illinois.

Southwind RAS, based in Illinois, was founded in 2009 and works directly with roofing contractors, haulers, recycling centers and asphalt producers to integrate recycled asphalt shingles into hot mix asphalt.

Under the terms of the LOI, Sky Quarry and Southwind RAS will evaluate the technical and logistical feasibility of implementing Sky Quarry’s proprietary recycling technologies at Southwind’s nine facilities in the greater Chicago area. The collaboration will focus on operational modeling, site assessments and financial structures to develop a scalable, modular approach to shingle recycling that creates “mutual value and environmental impact.”

“We’re excited to explore this relationship with Southwind RAS, a company that shares our deep commitment to sustainability and innovation,” says David Sealock, CEO of Sky Quarry. “This LOI marks a key step forward in Sky Quarry’s national expansion strategy to intercept waste at the source and convert it into valuable, sustainable materials.

“By assessing opportunities for regional deployment of our proprietary recycling technology and leveraging Southwind’s infrastructure, experience and local market presence, we aim to build a scalable model that creates shared value. By scaling locally and executing nationally, Sky Quarry is creating a blueprint for the future of waste-to-energy and materials recovery.”

To produce high-value byproducts for local and regional markets, the proposed collaboration at Southwind’s facilities is expected to generate materials such as asphalt-coated limestone, sand, granules, glass fibers, bitumen and ground asphalt shingles, resources that can be repurposed for use in various applications, including roofing, road repair, sealants and structural reinforcement.

Sky Quarry estimates approximately 1.2 million tons of asphalt shingle waste are generated annually in the region. If fully recycled, the material could yield the equivalent of 1.5 million barrels of oil, underscoring the environmental urgency and economic opportunity behind Sky Quarry’s recycling technology and the proposed collaboration.

Research

C&DR seeks industry participation for 2025 Largest C&D Recyclers List

The September/October issue of Construction & Demolition Recycling (C&DR) again will feature the magazine’s biennial list of the largest construction and demolition (C&D) recyclers in the U.S. To compile the most accurate list possible, the editors of the publication request your help.

For consideration, C&D recyclers are asked to fill out this brief form by July 25: www.cdrecycler.com/form/cdr-largest-cd-recyclers-list-submission-form-2025.

The critical statistic in determining listing order is processing volumes of mixed recycled materials from calendar year 2024.

Should you have any questions about this list and what the editors of the publication hope to accomplish, please do not hesitate to email C&DR Managing Editor Shelley Mann at smann@gie.net or Associate Editor Haley Rischar at hrischar@gie.net.

C&DR thanks recyclers in advance for their assistance and participation.

Demolition

NC county removes 1M cubic yards of hurricane debris

Buncombe County, North Carolina, which includes the cities of Asheville and Black Mountain and other unincorporated areas, has cleaned up more than 1.22 million cubic yards of debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

WLOS Asheville reports that the county received 4,551 total applications for personal property debris removal through March 31. AshBritt, a Deerfield Beach, Florida-based disaster recovery contractor hired by the county, has completed 1,391 debris removal projects to date.

Demolition projects also are underway, with more than 316 individuals requesting help and 45 demolition permits granted.

To qualify for demolition, those requesting help must sign right-of-way entry documents and show proof of filing for demolition assistance.

Other requirements include any statements from lien or mortgage providers that demolition is allowed, along with a site inspection of the structure to be demolished.

Waterway debris removal in the county continues through June 1. WLOS reports more than 696,253 cubic yards of debris have been removed from waterways, including Beetree, Cane and French Ivy creeks and Broad and Swannanoa rivers.

Projected estimates for the work include removing all visible hazards by May 1, though that was not confirmed as of press time.