Illinois quarry operators seek permit for asphalt recycling

Quarry operators have submitted a special-use permit to add asphalt recycling business to its business, a report by rr.com says. Bob and Pam Schlichting of Rockton Rock Quarry in Rockton, Illinois, previously withdrew an annexation and zoning participation to operate an asphalt plant at the quarry after community opposition.

The application says the Schlichtings are requesting authorization to crush asphalt and concrete materials for use at local construction projects. The report says the equipment used for its mining operations, including crushers, screens and loaders, are similar to equipment needed for the recycling operation and therefore shouldn’t cause a disturbance in the community.

Broken concrete and asphalt from roads, driveways and parking lots must be disposed at a landfill, a clean construction and demolition fill site or recycling. The report says Rockton Mayor Dale Adams called the recycling operations “more environmentally friendly,” with less noise, dust and no blasting.

Adams also says in the report that Rockton Village Trustees discussed annexing the quarry to the village on the stipulation that they don’t construct an asphalt plant.

The Schlichtings are scheduled to appear before the Winnebago County Zoning Board of Appeals on Nov. 8 for the permit.