A combination of components for use in making asphalt concrete from a mixture of virgin aggregate material with recycled asphalt products and/or recycled asphalt shingles encompasses a direct dryer for heating virgin aggregate material; a pre-dryer for heating recycled asphalt product and/or recycled asphalt shingles, said pre-dryer using warm exhaust gas from said direct dryer to heat the recycled asphalt product and/or recycled asphalt shingles; and means for conveying warm exhaust gas from said direct dryer to said pre-dryer.