You Can Recycle That: Shingles

Warm weather is finally here, and for many that means home renovation projects. Last summer, a new roof was put on our house and I wish I knew then what I know now. Asphalt shingles can be recycled!

Instead of filling an multiple dumpsters, shingles can be ground up and used to pave roads! The shingles from an average sized home can pave about 200 feet of a two-lane highway. Recycling your shingles can keep really large quantities of hazardous waste materials out of landfills (and your ground water), reduce the amount of virgin oil used to make asphalt, and it can save tax-payer dollars (your money) by reducing how much local municipalities spend on paving materials.

Here in Western New York, Triad Recycling collects shingles for recycling. They've teamed up with The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) to provide recycled asphalt for paving roadways across New York State. To find a recycling facility near you, use ShingleRecycling.com's find a recycler tool.

Before you start a roofing project on your home, speak with your contractor and make sure they are willing to have your shingles recycled.

Once your old roof is recycled, remember your new roof can be more eco-friendly too! Many new roofing products are Energy Star certified. Not only are there products available that can reduce your home's energy usage, but some are made using more earth-friendly materials too. Make sure you do a little research before choosing your new roof.

Further Reading:
http://www.asphaltroofing.org/asphalt-shingle-recycling-faqs
http://www.owenscorning.com/roofing/find-contractor/
http://www.earth911.com/recycling-guide/how-to-recycle-shingles/
http://www.shinglerecycling.org/