Grand Rapids-based Crutchall Resource Recycling (CRR) has opened a Lansing location that is gradually reducing the more than 50,000 tons of shingles that land in Lansing landfills every year.
Crutchall takes residential asphalt shingles from roofers and homeowners and, with the help of Michigan Paving, turns the former land fillfiller into hot-mix asphalt used to build roads and parking lots.
“We look at it as a win-win for everyone,” says Crutchall’s Ellie Kane. “It’s a win for the roofers, for the landfill, for the hot mix company — no one really loses out on this.”
Recycling shingles will reduce landfill growth, decrease the country’s dependence on foreign oil, reuse previously mined aggregate, produce better roads, save money, create new jobs and generate new revenue for the state, Kane says. Recycling will also save roofers money since it costs half as much to recycle the material than it does to send it to a landfill.
Crutchall’s 2127 W. Willow St. address in Lansing has been open since May. The 1.5-acre lot is fairly sparse and is home to a $420,000 grinder.
“In Grand Rapids, the community embraced it as they were more educated about it,” says Kane. “I expect that to happen in Lansing.”
Crutchall has locations in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lansing and is preparing to open another in Flint. Crutchall is seeking approval to use the product on public roadways.
“This is new to Michigan, so we’re not quite there yet,” Kane says.
Source: Ellie Kane, CRR
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
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