Iowa County Hosting Asphalt Shingle Recycling Workshop

The Waste Commission of Scott County, Iowa, will be hosting an asphalt shingle recycling workshop April 29th in Davenport, Iowa. The program will be held at the Scott Area landfill. During the workshop, the commission will unveil the details of its new, permanent asphalt shingle recycling program.

The workshop will teach roofing contractors how they can participate in the new program. The shingle recycling program will provide financial and other incentives to participants.

"The Shingle Recycling Workshop will teach attendees how to prepare shingles to qualify for a reduced tipping fee at the landfill, how the shingle recycling process works, and information on other incentives the Commission will offer to roofers and contractors willing to recycle," says Erin Robinson, communication coordinator for Waste Commission of Scott County. "We'll also be asking the attendees for their input on how to increase participation and improve the program," she said.

Persons interested in attending the workshop are asked to fill out a registration form at www.wastecom.com.

The commission also notes that roofing contractors who sign up to participate in the program will save $10 per ton on their tipping fee at the landfill. Effective May 1, shingles that can be recycled will be charged $15 per ton and shingles that are not prepared for recycling will be charged $25 per ton.

"This can become a sales opportunity for a roofing contractor if they promote their 'green' business practices by recycling shingles that will be used in roadways," Robinson adds.

The Scott Area Landfill will accept specific loads of old shingles for recycling. The loads must not include metal, paper, plastic, trash and wood. However, nails and felt are acceptable in the shingle loads. The clean shingles are tested for asbestos. The asbestos-free shingles are stockpiled for grinding. The shingles are ground according to market specifications while a magnet removes the nails. Hot mix asphalt companies then purchase the ground shingles for use in asphalt paving.

"This is a great opportunity for our community," Kathy Morris, director of Waste Commission of Scott County, says. "We are not only reducing the waste that is going to our Landfill, but also conserving natural resources. Recycled asphalt shingles replace a portion of the petroleum-based binder used in the asphalt process," she adds.