NORTHFORD -
Its the blacktop that's just a bit more green friendly. Andrew Bozzuto looked up when he decided to repave his Northford lot -- he got as far as the roof. Teaming up with the New Britain based asphalt company Tilcon, they're putting recycled roof shingles into their "hot mix" to pave the lot at Bozzuto's refuse and recycling business.
"They take the roofing shingles and remove them from any house, " Bozzuto said. "They're removed and tested for asbestos and when they're tested clean, they're then pulverized to a powder form, added to sand and the sand then is mixed with the asphalt we see laid today."
Tilcon Asphalt Division Manager Joe Marrone said, "It is a little more friendly, this is a hot mix asphalt, its comprised of about 27 percent recycled materials, seven of which is asphalt roofing shingles that have been ground up and re-entered into the mix, the other twenty percent is recycled asphalt pavement."
Instead of clogging a landfill, now the roof shingles are recycled pavement are filling the road. Fifty tons of crushed shingles were hauled to Northford from Massachusetts to help with the lot project. The process is used by states like Massachusetts for their state roads but not yet in Connecticut where its only allowed to be done on private property. But Bozzuto hopes there is more opportunity for recycled roads, down the road.
"Its full circle, its asphalt shingles right back to asphalt," Bozzuto said, "the faster we can get more people to ask for the recycled asphalt the better it is for all of us."
"They take the roofing shingles and remove them from any house, " Bozzuto said. "They're removed and tested for asbestos and when they're tested clean, they're then pulverized to a powder form, added to sand and the sand then is mixed with the asphalt we see laid today."
Tilcon Asphalt Division Manager Joe Marrone said, "It is a little more friendly, this is a hot mix asphalt, its comprised of about 27 percent recycled materials, seven of which is asphalt roofing shingles that have been ground up and re-entered into the mix, the other twenty percent is recycled asphalt pavement."
Instead of clogging a landfill, now the roof shingles are recycled pavement are filling the road. Fifty tons of crushed shingles were hauled to Northford from Massachusetts to help with the lot project. The process is used by states like Massachusetts for their state roads but not yet in Connecticut where its only allowed to be done on private property. But Bozzuto hopes there is more opportunity for recycled roads, down the road.
"Its full circle, its asphalt shingles right back to asphalt," Bozzuto said, "the faster we can get more people to ask for the recycled asphalt the better it is for all of us."
