Lots of shingles, but no recycler named yet

A pilot program by the city that aims to recycle asphalt roofing shingles won the approval of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on Monday.

Cynthia Mitchell, landfill and recovery superintendent, said the landfill has received almost 125 tons of recyclable shingles since it began diverting clean loads to a recovery area Tuesday morning. As of Tuesday afternoon, however, the Public Works Department had not arrived at an agreement with a bidding company to actually recycle the shingles.

Companies wishing to participate in the program had to turn in their bids by 9 a.m. Monday.

“We have the proposals in, and we’re evaluating,” said Richard Wieman, the solid waste utility manager for Columbia Public Works, adding that in this situation, not all bids are the same. Wieman said that because companies have proposed different ways of recycling the shingles, the department would have to work out the details. He said he hopes to arrive at an agreement within a few days.