When people are done with bottles, cans, newspapers, even cell phones, they can usually find a place to recycle them.
But when a driveway, roadway or parking lot is replaced, what can be done with the mound of broken asphalt left behind?
If the Lyon County Board of Commissioners approves a special use permit sought by Cruz Construction, eventually old asphalt can be recycled too. The commissioners will consider the request at a Thursday meeting.
Steve Cruz, John Zerweck and Diamond Back Properties is seeking a permit to operate an asphalt recycling plant on 28 acres at 65 Kit Kat Drive in Mound House.
The operation was approved by the Lyon County Planning Commission on the condition that the access road used be Newman Lane, not Kit Kat Drive.
Steve Cruz of Cruz Construction said his plant will save space.
"People are taking asphalt to the dump and filling up the landfill with it," he said. "This is a way to get rid of the asphalt without filling up the landfill."
Cruz said he would charge people less than the $7 per ton it cost to dump at the landfill, though he has not yet set his price.
Once the operation is in place, the company expects 20 to 30 truckloads a day, and will consider providing pickup services,
"We could come and get it, but we will prefer people deliver it," he said.
The charge to take the used asphalt will offset the cost of the crushing equipment, Cruz said.
Once the asphalt was crushed, it would be sold to private companies.
"It can be used for base for roadways, parking lots and driveways," he said.
Cruz expects 20 to 30 truckloads of asphalt each weekday.
-- Contact reporter Karen Woodmansee at kwoodmansee@nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111 ext. 351.
If you go
WHAT: Lyon County Commission meeting
WHEN: 9 a.m. Thursday
WHERE: 27 S. Main St., Yerington
CALL: (775) 463-6531
