Minnesota Companies Demonstrate Shingle Recycling

Two Minnesota companies jointly demonstrated grinding asphalt shingles for use in recycled paving products at an Oct. 21 event, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. (Minneapolis).

Dem-Con Recovery & Recycling, a subsidiary of Dem-Con Companies, Shakopee, Minn., hosted the event with Commercial Asphalt Co. The demonstration featured at Rotochopper RG1 grinder processing tear-off asphalt shingles for use in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) plants.

The technique sorts mixed roofing material to produce clean shingles, which are fed into the grinder. The product of that process is then fed into the asphalt plant. The final product contains 5 percent recycled asphalt shingles.

According to the report, officials of the companies contend that this process is rapidly becoming accepted as an energy saver in the industry and could reach 156,000 tons per year by 2012.