| December 15, 2000
News Release Y.K. Products, a company that produces a dry, odorless compound containing up to 70-percent recycled asphalt for patching potholes and other concrete repair, is the newest recycling partner in King County's LinkUp program. The product uses compaction, not evaporation, to harden, so it greatly minimizes or eliminates the release of toxics into the atmosphere and stormwater runoff. LinkUp was launched last year to encourage businesses and manufacturers to incorporate more recycled materials into their products. Sponsored by the King County Commission for Marketing Recyclable Materials, the program offers free information resources, technical expertise and promotional assistance to eligible businesses throughout the Puget Sound area. Pothole repair can be a volatile issue, for a variety of reasons. Not only can large potholes cause vehicle damage and add to further roadway erosion, but the most commonly used asphalt products also contain volatile solvents, such as kerosene, naphtha or jet fuel. These solvents are then released into the atmosphere and stormwater runoff. Two years ago, Y.K. Products, LLC of Everett, Wash., developed and began producing U.S. Cold Patch. The patented product is ready to use immediately after it is installed on either concrete or asphalt. Unlike other cold-patch asphalt materials, U.S. Cold Patch hardens through compaction as vehicles drive over it, so releases of petroleum-based solvents are minimized or eliminated. The result is an asphalt patch that is not only environmentally friendly but also longer-lasting than other cold-patch products. Most street repairs are made with "hot" asphalt, which must be delivered to the job site within a fixed period of time (or continually heated) and applied to the pothole before it hardens. But hot- mix asphalt is often too cumbersome and expensive for small street repairs, so many transportation engineers rely on "cutback" or "cold-patch" asphalt as a temporary solution. Typical cutback asphalts are made from "cutting" hot asphalt with petroleum solvents to prevent the asphalt from solidifying before it is applied. This process allows the product to be stored, transported or bagged for longer periods of time. Once applied to the roadway, the solvents evaporate into the atmosphere and are often carried away in stormwater runoff. "U.S. Cold Patch contains no added petroleum-based volatiles found in typical cutback asphalt," says Erv Sandlin, LinkUp program manager, "so it will not expose road crews to the hazardous fumes and materials that most other patching materials contain. This also means there is less likelihood of contaminating stormwater runoff that could end up in our region's salmon streams." The LinkUp team will help introduce U.S. Cold Patch to the Puget Sound region by identifying potential buyers and sponsoring a series of meetings with local government purchasing agents and road maintenance officials. In addition, the company will receive marketing support from the LinkUp program. Y.K. Products joins four other Puget Sound businesses already in the LinkUp program, which began in April 2000. The other partners are:
The program aims to partner with six to 12 businesses during its start-up year. Approximately $235,000 in funds have been appropriated for the LinkUp program - $135,000 from King County and an additional $100,000 from the City of Seattle. Businesses that are interested in learning more about LinkUp and other programs sponsored by the King County Commission for Marketing Recyclable Materials should contact Erv Sandlin on 206-296-0233 or visit its web site at http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/linkup/.- end -
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