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JM: Is the end-user that is working with Michigan Paving happy with the quality of asphalt-shingle supplemented pavement?

EK: Yes. In fact, we are one of the customers. Our pavement in our Lansing yard was laid with our product. I was there the day the hot-mix asphalt boys came over and were looking at it. We stood out there in the 90 degree heat, 'oohing' and 'aahing' over the parking lot. We had the Beast grinder running on that blacktop that they had laid, and even with that heat, it wasn't sinking into the pavement. That is a big heavy piece of equipment, vibrating away. It could have been sinking down, but it wasn't. That's one of the benefits of using recycled shingles in blacktop.

JM: You think it makes it tougher?

EK: Yes it does. That's why it is limited to using to only 5% shingle supplement. Usually 2 to 7% is kind of their limit, because it really thickens the pavement and makes it tougher to work with. But it produces a stronger road-a stiffer road-and that means you won't get the rutting and sinking from heavy traffic flow and high temperatures.

JM: Do you think it is because of the mix of the stone?

EK: Its because the asphalt is oxidized. It's not as soft as it would be with a liquid asphalt. That's the benefit. Now, there are projects that have been done with a higher content than the 5% we recommend. Matt and I just got back from Minnesota and Wisconsin. Minnesota has done some projects with 20%+, but for the most part, the industry sticks to that 5 to 7%.

JM: If I recall correctly, I once attended a conference that said Minnesota, Texas and South Carolina had approved up to a 5% mix of shingles in hot mix asphalt.

EK: I know that there are only 4 or 5 states that have tear offs approved and probably about a dozen that are using manufacturing waste and/or tear offs.

JM: We have a Beast running out east grinding tear offs, and they had a water floatation process that they separated everything with after the shingles were ground. It works pretty good: I know they were skimming the wood off the top, and they had a way of skimming even the aluminum nails out of there.

EK: We were just in Minnesota and Wisconsin and looking at other recyclers, and we got to see a Rotochopper run, and the product of hammermills and Peterson and Bandit. We certainly felt that our product with the Bandit Beast Recycler was one of the best. We really liked what we saw with the hammermill, but that is a different process and limits some of the usage, so it has its plusses and minuses. I heard from a few different sources that they really felt the Bandit was the best grind.

JM: We haven't had anybody buy a Bandit to grind shingles and go with another brand after they know how to run ours. All the major shingle grinders only run Bandits, and have run many of them. When they go to replace machines, they don't consider anything else. The big players are using ours. There are some people that think that they ought to go with a hammermill because maybe the teeth last longer but in the end, their operating costs are higher, the product is not as good, and they cant get as much for it.

EK: We are very pleased with the Bandit. We have had to work through some initial maintenance issues, but we are pleased with our product and have your support and service. We've been putting together a flyer with benefits of recycling shingles, and are talking with a couple of our senators, letting them know that shingles shouldn't be landfilled. They need to be recycled. They are too valuable of a resource.

It is important to note that when shingles are 100% recyclable. When shingles are recycled rather than landfilled, we conserve landfill growth, decrease our dependence on foreign oil, reuse previously mined aggregate, offer better private roads and parking lots, create new jobs, and generate revenue. Companies such as Crutchall Resource Recycling are doing their part to reduce landfill waste, as well as boosting the state's economy. Bandit Beast Recyclers are a proven method for breaking down shingle waste.

In addition to grinding services, Crutchall Resource Recycling offers consulting services for those wishing to set up shingle recycling facilities. They are eager to assist others with State Environmental Agencies, marketing, processes, and/or Departments of Transportation. They are located in Wyoming, MI and can be reached at (616) 241-5554.