Cascadia News
January 23, 2012 -
2012 will mark the sixth year that Cascadia has supported King County’s LinkUp program, which works to expand markets for selected recyclable and reusable materials. In 2012, the program will focus on carpet, mattresses, and shingles.
Asphalt shingles has been a priority material for LinkUp since 2006. Since that time, Cascadia Consulting Group’s Michelle Caulfield has been leading this effort to increase the use of recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) in local asphalt pavements. Caulfield’s work involves conducting national and local market research, facilitating stakeholder and industry engagement, developing specifications, implementing a paving demonstration, and providing technical assistance to local agencies interested in including RAS in paving contracts.
Some 27,000 tons of asphalt shingles are generated annually in King County, and more than 7 million tons of asphalt shingles go to landfills annually in the United States. Using RAS in asphalt pavements can divert valuable resources from landfills, reduce paving costs, and advance sustainability goals.
The U.S. paving industry produces approximately 500 million tons of hot mix asphalt per year. Hot mix asphalt is made up of coarse and fine mineral aggregate and liquid asphalt, which serves as the binder or glue in the mix. Asphalt shingles consist of these same basic ingredients, with asphalt content ranging from 20-30 percent. Reclaiming asphalt from shingles offers a cost-effective alternative to the expensive virgin asphalt used in paving mixes.
Four years ago there was limited infrastructure or interest in the Puget Sound Area for using RAS in hot mix asphalt. Today, there are a several recyclers, producers, and public agencies interested in this sustainable technology. The Washington State Department of Transportation and the Washington Asphalt Paving Association recently drafted a new special provision to monitor the use of RAS in select state paving contracts this year. This is a significant step forward in sustainability in Washington State.
For the latest information on using RAS in Washington State paving projects, see King County’s Fall 2011 eNewsLink newsletter and the LinkUp website. Additional information on recycled asphalt shingles can be found at http://www.shinglerecycling.org/.
Asphalt shingles has been a priority material for LinkUp since 2006. Since that time, Cascadia Consulting Group’s Michelle Caulfield has been leading this effort to increase the use of recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) in local asphalt pavements. Caulfield’s work involves conducting national and local market research, facilitating stakeholder and industry engagement, developing specifications, implementing a paving demonstration, and providing technical assistance to local agencies interested in including RAS in paving contracts.
Some 27,000 tons of asphalt shingles are generated annually in King County, and more than 7 million tons of asphalt shingles go to landfills annually in the United States. Using RAS in asphalt pavements can divert valuable resources from landfills, reduce paving costs, and advance sustainability goals.
The U.S. paving industry produces approximately 500 million tons of hot mix asphalt per year. Hot mix asphalt is made up of coarse and fine mineral aggregate and liquid asphalt, which serves as the binder or glue in the mix. Asphalt shingles consist of these same basic ingredients, with asphalt content ranging from 20-30 percent. Reclaiming asphalt from shingles offers a cost-effective alternative to the expensive virgin asphalt used in paving mixes.
Four years ago there was limited infrastructure or interest in the Puget Sound Area for using RAS in hot mix asphalt. Today, there are a several recyclers, producers, and public agencies interested in this sustainable technology. The Washington State Department of Transportation and the Washington Asphalt Paving Association recently drafted a new special provision to monitor the use of RAS in select state paving contracts this year. This is a significant step forward in sustainability in Washington State.
For the latest information on using RAS in Washington State paving projects, see King County’s Fall 2011 eNewsLink newsletter and the LinkUp website. Additional information on recycled asphalt shingles can be found at http://www.shinglerecycling.org/.
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