The Benefits of Shingle Recycling

RoadHedrick Construction provides shingle recycling and reuse of all viable roofing materials so customers can lighten their environmental footprint when replacing their roofs or repairing shingles. There are many advantages to recycling shingles versus disposing of them by sending them to landfills. According to Owens Corning, each year in the United States, close to 10 million tons of recyclable shingles are removed from roofs. That’s a lot of material that could be reused and repurposed in numerous ways!

The Benefits of Shingle Recycling 

What is Shingle Recycling?

Shingle recycling is the process of taking asphalt shingles that are removed from a roof and keeping them so they can be reused instead of throwing them into a landfill.  With 10 million tons of shingles torn off homes every year, shingles may account for 5% of total annual building-related waste (Owens Corning). Recycling all of this material and repurposing it into new products is a great way to utilize your extra shingles.

 

Reasons for Recycling Your Shingles

There are several great reasons to recycle instead of letting your asphalt shingles go to waste after they’re removed from your rooftop!

Reason #1: It’s usually convenient! If your roofing contractor offers shingle recycling services (not all do), then they can easily remove your old shingles from your roof by going through the same procedure they would for a typical roofing job and then transport the shingles for you to a local facility. Where you live and whom you choose as your roofing contractor will determine how convenient the recycling process will be. Some contractors don’t offer this service, and local recycling facilities are unavailable in some areas. Check around and ask which contractors in your area offer shingle recycling before beginning your roofing project.

Reason #2: It’s cost-effective! The cost of recycling shingles can vary depending on who is performing the service, but it is almost always cheaper than sending materials to a landfill. Sometimes it’s even free!

Reason #3: You will conserve valuable resources! The number one thing recycled shingles are used for is to pave new roads. Shingles from one average-sized house can pave approximately 200 feet of a two-lane highway. Shingles might also be used to produce energy or be made into other roofing or road maintenance products.

 

How do I get my roofing contractor to recycle my old shingles?

Before you have your roof repaired or replaced by a contractor, find out whether the company you plan to hire provides a recycling service for customers. Owens Corning offers a search tool that can help you connect with contractors in your area that perform this service. Check out the online recycling locator to determine the best option for shingle recycling in your area.

 

Owens Corning and Hedrick Construction

Owens Corning was the first manufacturer to introduce a shingle recycling program that addresses a full approach to sustainability, including all stages of a product’s life cycle: sourcing, manufacturing, performance, and end of life. Owens Corning Preferred Contractors like Hedrick Construction can pledge to recycle your old shingles when carrying out your reroofing project. The torn off shingles will be driven to the closest recycling facility, where they will be sorted, ground, heated, and mixed to produce hot mix asphalt.

If you would like to take the Owens Corning pledge to learn how you can help reduce the number of shingles in your landfill, simply fill out a short online form.

CONTACT US

To learn more about Ames, Ankeny, or Huxley shingle recycling, give us a call at 515-597-7663 or fill out the form online to request more information. Hedrick Construction has been serving Central Iowa for over a decade, offering quality roofing and siding services, insulation, gutter, and window installation, and repairs for residential and commercial properties. If you need any upgrades to your home, we will incorporate master craftsmanship into all of our offered services.

Comments