A Guide to Recycling Asphalt Roofing Shingles

Recycling asphalt roofing shingles is a great way to reduce waste and conserve natural resources. According to the American Society for Testing and Materials, over 11 million tons of asphalt shingles are discarded each year in the United States.

You can recycle your asphalt shingles by contacting a local waste management company that offers shingle recycling programs. These programs will collect your shingles and process them into new products like aggregate base material or hot mix asphalt.

The process of recycling asphalt shingles typically involves sorting, crushing, and screening the shingles to separate the asphalt from the fiberglass mat. The asphalt is then re-melted and re-formed into new products.

Many communities have recycling programs specifically designed for asphalt shingles, so it's worth checking with your local waste management agency to see if they offer such a program.

Asphalt roof shingles are a common type of roofing material, but did you know that millions of tons of them end up in landfills each year?

A lack of recycling programs and technical reuse limitations can make it difficult for contractors to increase recycling efforts. This is a major roadblock to reducing waste and conserving natural resources.

Asphalt shingles are recyclable, but they must not contain asbestos. This is an important consideration for contractors and homeowners who want to recycle their old shingles.

Earth911 has a database of recyclers throughout North America that can help you find recycling options near you. This is a valuable resource for anyone looking to recycle their asphalt shingles.

For another approach, see: Recycle Solar Lights

Recycling asphalt roofing shingles is a great way to reduce waste and create a more sustainable environment. According to the Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA), asphalt shingles contain 40% asphalt, making them an attractive substitute for virgin asphalt.

You can recycle asphalt shingles through programs like Owens Corning's Roofing business, which connects contractors with convenient drop-offs and recycling centers run by Heritage Environmental Services. Heritage will recycle and process shingle tear-offs for use in paving.

Some attempts have been made to recycle shingles into new shingles, but problems persist in reprocessing shingles to conform to feedstock requirements. However, recycled asphalt shingles can be used in various applications, including parking lots, temporary roadways, and hot mix asphalt wear course.

Recycling options for asphalt shingles include grinding or shredding them to a size useful in paving materials, such as aggregate base course, pothole/road patch material, or granular base stabilization layer. Earth911 maintains a database of recyclers throughout North America for all types of shingles, making it easy to find recycling options near you.

Here are some common uses for recycled asphalt shingles:

Owens Corning is taking a proactive step towards sustainability by developing a program to recycle asphalt shingles.

Their program connects roofing contractors with convenient drop-off centers run by Heritage Environmental Services, which will recycle and process shingle tear-offs for use in paving.

The shingles contain 40 percent asphalt, making them an attractive substitute for virgin asphalt.

Using 5 percent recycled shingle byproduct can save between $1 and $2.80 per ton of hot-mix asphalt.

Owens Corning's program is a start in the right direction, even if it's only offered to their preferred contractors.

Recycling asphalt shingles can be a game-changer for the environment, and it's easier than you think. They contain 40% asphalt, making them a valuable substitute for virgin asphalt. In fact, using just 5% recycled shingle byproduct can save between $1 and $2.80 per ton of hot-mix asphalt.

Some companies, like Owens Corning, are taking the lead in shingle recycling. They've developed a program to connect roofing contractors with convenient drop-offs and recycling centers. This is a great step forward, but it's only available to their preferred contractors.

Recycling shingles can be done in various ways, including grinding or shredding them into a size useful for paving materials. This can be used for parking lots, temporary roadways, aggregate base course, and more. Here are some examples:

It's worth noting that not all types of shingles can be recycled. Some, like concrete shingles, can be busted up for gravel, while others, like wood shingles, can be ground down for animal bedding or mulch.

11-13 million tons of asphalt shingles are torn off roofs in the U.S. every year. This staggering amount of waste ends up in landfills, with less than 10% being recycled.

The majority of this waste is due to a lack of recycling infrastructure and a linear industrial process that doesn't allow for the reuse of materials. However, GAF, the leading manufacturer of asphalt shingles, is working to change this.

GAF aims to divert one million tons of asphalt shingle waste from landfills annually by 2030. This is a significant goal, and one that could make a big impact on the environment.

The company's innovative RoofCycle Process is a key part of their plan to reduce waste and promote recycling. This process uses end-of-life roofing shingles to create briquettes that can be used to manufacture new asphalt shingles.

During a pilot program, GAF found they were able to use about 90% of the shingle waste material they collected. This is a significant reduction in waste and a major step towards a more circular industrial process.