New incentives will help conserve oil

The governor signed State Senator Dave Koehler’s (D-Peoria) plan to encourage roofing and building companies to recycle asphalt shingles rather than dump them in landfills into law earlier today.

Asphalt shingles are made from the same basic ingredients as paving asphalt--including oil--and can easily be reused to pave roads. This move could help a shingle-recycling facility in South Peoria.

"By reusing the oil in asphalt shingles to pave our roads, we can reduce our reliance on foreign oil," Koehler said.

House Bill 1326 allows recycling facilities to count each ton of asphalt they recycle as two tons towards their state-mandated recycling quota. This incentive doesn’t cost the State anything, but it will encourage recycling facilities to work with building, roofing, and demolition companies to acquire more asphalt shingles.

Days ago, Southwind RAS opened an asphalt recycling facility on the south side of Peoria. The facility now employs four people and provides a convenient recycling facility for Peoria-area roofers. It hopes to hire more employees soon. Senator Koehler’s legislation should help create business for the company.

"I’m glad that Governor Quinn signed this bill," Koehler said. "It will help us protect the environment by keeping shingles out of landfills, recycle a valuable resource, and help a local company."

The legislation also sets a goal for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to use as much recycled asphalt and other low-cost alternative materials for road construction and repair as possible.

"If the State is establishing incentives for others to recycle, we should do so ourselves," Koehler explained. "We need to set a good example."

The new law takes effect January 1, 2012.