Home News Landfill Recycles Shingles for Asphalt

Landfill Recycles Shingles for Asphalt

(LeMars) A new type of recycling program is taking place at the Plymouth County Landfill.  Old roofing shingles are being ground up in a powder to be later used in asphalt for roadways.  Mark Kunkel serves as the manager for the Plymouth County Solid Waster Agency.  He says between 1200 and 1500 tons of roofing tar shingles from Plymouth County will be purchased by the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/October2011/kunkel1.mp3{/audio}

Kunkel says the recycling process not only prolongs the life of the old tar roofing shingles, but it also prolongs the life of the landfill.

Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/October2011/kunkel2.mp3{/audio}

The solid waste manager says Plymouth County is the first to implement the recycling of roofing shingles.  He offers an explaination as to why shingles are requested for asphalt projects.

Listen here
{audio}images/stories/mp3/October2011/kunkel3.mp3{/audio}

The grinder is scheduled to be at the landfill for only a couple of days. Kunkel says a paving company from Des Moines will be hauling away the recycled shingles.  Kunkel hopes the landfill can grind shingles at least once a year.

(Sioux City) — Congressman Steve King toured the flood damaged area along the Missouri River earlier this week.  The tour took place hours after King’s help in the effort to establish FEMA individual assistance was realized for Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Monona and Pottawattamie counties.  After touring the devasated area by airplane, King commented that he is even more convinced that his sponsored bill, H.R. 2942 needs to be passed.  H.R. 2942 would give flood control more of a priority with the U-S Army Corps of Engineers.  The Iowa Republican says his bill would assure families, farms and infrastructure would never again be devastated by another flood along the Missouri River.

(Sioux City) — St. Luke’s Hospital has announced they have assumed the sponsorship of Siouxland PACE to its health system.  Siouxland PACE is a Medicare/Medicaid program that provides healthcare and support services to enable elderly individuals to remain at home.  Siouxland PACE was previously operated by Health Inc.  Dr. Richard Hildebrand, St. Luke’s Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer says the health system recognizes the valuable role Siouxland PACE plays within the community.  “We believe Siouxland PACE is vital in helping to reduce readmissions and promotes the importance of continuum of care.  As a full-service hospital, St. Luke’s can utilize our services to support the program’s mission to enable the elderly to remain living in our community.  The program offers peace of mind to participants and their families,” said Hildebrand.  Siouxland PACE operates an adult day center in the old HyVee building along with the Center for Active Generations at the corner of Hamilton and Cook in Sioux City.  Currently, the program serves 120 participants in six Iowa counties.