Washington Recycler Joins LinkUp

King County, Wash., officials have announced that American Roofing Recyclers LLC is the newest company to join the county’s LinkUp program.

The program partners with manufacturers, material processors and businesses that encourage salvage and reuse, according to a release from the office of King County Executive Ron Sims.

Located in Snohomish, Wash., American Roofing Recyclers processes and recycles about 250 tons of composition roofing, 260 tons of shake roofing and 90 tons of mixed composition roofing and wood per month, according to the release. About 95 percent of the material comes from roofing and construction companies while the remainder is delivered by homeowners.

According to the press release, American Roofing Recyclers makes several products from the material it processes. For example, cedar shingle roofing may be recycled into landscaping chips or sold as hog fuel.

The asphalt roofing is divided by size into small, medium and large. It’s sold to a company that prepares and sells a variety of products made from it. Some of the products are used in trails and walkways, while others are sold as road base material or top coat dressing for roofs. One product, called No-Slip, is used for snow and ice applications in place of sand and salt.

American Roofing Recyclers employs seven people. Established in 1998, the company currently occupies a 5/8-acre site, but is hoping to move to a larger facility some time within the next year.

King County is focusing on six priority materials for recycling: paper, wood, metals, yard waste, food waste and electronics. By recycling wood shake and composition roofing, American Roofing Recyclers is helping find markets for these materials instead of sending them to a landfill.

The LinkUp team will help the company expand its market development and may assist with material testing of its asphalt sand product as well, according to the release.

LinkUp was launched in 2000 to encourage manufacturers to incorporate more recycled materials into their products. The program, sponsored by the King County Solid Waste Division, offers free, customized technical and promotional support to selected businesses.

LinkUp works with three to five new businesses each year and is currently accepting applications. More information is available online at dnr.metrokc.gov/linkup.