The Four Corners area — and its landfills — could soon benefit from a concrete and asphalt crusher at Cortez-based D&L Construction.

Since the machinery is cost-prohibitive to the local construction business, the Cortez City Council on Tuesday authorized Mayor Karen Sheek to sign a letter of support a D&L Construction grant application with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

“This is something that staff is extremely excited about,” City Manager John Dougherty said.

Instead of sending construction and demolition waste to the landfill, Dougherty said Cortez will require all concrete and asphalt from city projects to be recycled at D&L Construction. The city would then use the recycled material in other projects.

“It will save landfill space, it will save on transportation, and it will give us base if we ever need base for roads or anything,” Dougherty said. “This is an extremely important thing, and it will be great for the area.”

Dave and Lana Waters, owners of D&L Construction, said once the machinery is up and running in July, they will start accepting concrete and asphalt for free — as long as it’s clean and free of debris.

“It’s beneficial to the whole community,” Lana Waters said.

Dave Waters said D&L Construction is seeking the crusher out of necessity. The business already produces a lot of waste during projects for the city and the Colorado Department of Transportation.

“It’s hard to find a place to dispose of it, so it just made sense that we recycle it,” Dave Waters said.

He said a new concrete and asphalt crusher costs about $850,000, but the company is purchasing a used crusher for about $400,000.

sdolan@the-journal.com