It has an appetite for concrete but it’s not so fond of metal.
A track jaw machine owned by Salmon Arm Ready Mix hungrily chewed up all the concrete on the former Salmon Arm GM site and crushed it into a material that can be used underneath roads.
Not so partial to metal, the machine spits out separately any rebar or wire mesh, leaving it to be taken to the depot for recycling.
“So many times the stuff is just buried in somebody’s field or something. It’s nice to see it finally being used,” said Read LaTosky, Ready Mix owner. He said the track jaw machine can crush rocks, asphalt and concrete pieces that are up to about 24 inches diameter, down to a little over three inches. A magnet with a revolving belt gathers the metal and then spits it out.
“It’s not brand new technology, we’ve had it for six to eight years,” LaTosky says of the machine. “It’s the first time anyone’s got us on a job to do it properly.”
LaTosky was hired by Mountainside Earthworks of Salmon Arm, who was hired by the owner for the demolition.
“I was really happy to do it. I’ve been waiting so long to be able to recycle something like this,” LaTosky adds.
Terry Sulphur, owner of Mountainside Earthworks, said everything was separated out and recycled.
The metal was recycled, the concrete and asphalt was either taken to be recycled or left on the site for further use and the wood and drywall were taken to the landfill to be recycled.