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As a trusted roofing contractor, we’re well aware that roofing contributes significantly to construction waste. However, amidst the discussions around it, there’s an important and often overlooked subject—shingle recycling.
The Sustainability of Asphalt Shingle Recycling
When the time comes for a roof replacement, there’s an opportunity to embrace sustainability through shingle recycling. Asphalt shingles, popular for their affordability and durability, have another significant advantage—they are recyclable. Instead of contributing to landfill waste, removed shingles from homes and businesses can find new life in various applications.
Recycling Centers: A Second Life for Shingles
Once contractors remove asphalt shingles from a building, these materials make their way to specialized recycling centers to avoid landfill disposal. This process offers homeowners and building owners the chance to talk to their contractors about their roofing materials’ end-of-life path, ensuring these materials are handled responsibly.
Post-Recycling Applications for Shingles
Recycled asphalt shingles are most commonly repurposed for road-related projects. They serve as an additive for paving public roads, driveways, and parking lots. This recycled content is incorporated into new asphalt pavement mixes, demonstrating the closed-loop potential of shingle recycling. This translates to more sustainable public structures underfoot.
Support and Growth of Shingle Recycling
Organizations like the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) and the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) recognize the increase in shingle recycling. Their efforts include research into new applications for recycled materials and advocating for the growth of recycling capabilities, ensuring that as trends in residential roofing change, the environmental responsibility is heightened.
The Process of Asphalt Shingle Recycling
Asphalt shingle recycling involves several steps to transform old shingles into new resources. After sorting to remove any non-asphalt materials, shingles undergo grinding to reduce them to smaller particles. These recycled asphalt shingles can then act as a substitute for virgin asphalt in paving mixes, allowing a considerable reduction in raw material needs and conservation of valuable natural resources.
The Environmental and Economic Benefits
The recycling of asphalt shingles comes with notable environmental benefits. By repurposing this material, we not only dodge the environmental impact of added landfill mass but also conserve non-renewable petroleum-based resources used in new asphalt production. Economically speaking, recycling can reduce the cost of road maintenance, which is a benefit felt by taxpayers and municipal budgets. Additionally, this process supports the creation of jobs at recycling facilities, further enriching local economies.
For all your residential roofing needs, turn to Crown Roofing LTD. We install roofs by manufacturers with great reputations and solid warranties — GAF and Owens Corning. We trust these products not just because they meet our stringent standards but also because they provide years of dependable service on your roof. Call us at (604) 370-6288, or fill out our contact form to request an estimate. We serve residents of New Westminster and Surrey.
