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Title
Recycling Roofing Materials: Developing Best Practices for Roofing Contractors
Recycling Roofing Materials: Developing Best Practices for Roofing Contractors
Date
9/2011
9/2011
Author(s)
D Coddington; J Lindhal; D Krivit; Rod Pfannenstiel
D Coddington; J Lindhal; D Krivit; Rod Pfannenstiel
Page(s)
Keyword(s)
asphalt shingle; low slope roofing material; recycling; source separation; visual inspecion; asbestos testing
asphalt shingle; low slope roofing material; recycling; source separation; visual inspecion; asbestos testing
Abstract
Roofing contractors are taking more initiative with recycling programs and accepting larger roles in developing a clean supply of tear-off asphalt shingles. Private paving contractors, hot-mix asphalt (HMA) producers and shingle recycling companies have invested millions of dollars to purchase equipment and develop recycling facilities. These trends are growing because of the favorable environmental and economic benefits of using recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) as a supplement in HMA. One of the greatest barriers to this technology’s accelerated growth is the lack of adequate, clean supplies of tear-off asphalt shingles. According to the Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA), more than 11 million tons of roofing material is placed in landfills every year. New systems are being developed to help educate and train roofing companies of all sizes to become involved in these new shingle recycling programs. Asphalt shingles are currently the most commonly recycled materials. This paper summarizes selected case study roofing materials recycling programs in the United States. New initiatives and technologies also are influencing the recycling of other low-slope roofing materials from commercial and industrial buildings. This paper highlights the development of best practice recommendations for roofing material recycling. It is based on current recycling programs, processes and training systems available for roofing contractors. One example shingle recycling program highlighted was developed with the help of David Coddington as part of the Roofs To Roads Colorado program. The Colorado training program provided a pathway for financial reward for roofing contractors, as well as a means to assure clean, high-quality asphalt shingles are recycled. Based on jobsite sorting (also known as “source separation”) of tear-off shingles for recycling, the Colorado program is one of the viable methods for collecting roofing materials. Roofing contractors, haulers and shingle recycling facility operators all need additional accurate up-to-date information regarding how to manage the minor risk of asbestos exposure in part to address state and local regulations. With proper pre-planning and ongoing quality control programs, the risk of asbestos exposure can be efficiently managed. Employee awareness and visual identification by trained personnel are two important tools in an overall quality control system within a modern shingle recycling program. Visual identification, combined with sampling and laboratory testing, should be part of the overall risk management plan. This paper identifies two complimentary options: testing from samples taken “on the roof” before tear-off, and testing “at the recycling center” after loads are tipped. Both options are viable and the exact mix of testing systems will depend on local conditions. The industry as a whole is rapidly moving into recycling systems for a wide variety of low-slope roofing materials, such as EPDM, PVC, and rigid insulation. With the help of leadership from manufacturers in the roofing industry, more opportunities will exist for commercial roofing contractors to plan and implement material reuse and recycling programs. Roofing contractors - individually and collectively - can become a more powerful voice in development of new recycling systems. Design and implementation of new recycling programs will benefit from roofing contractors’ knowledge and materials experience.
Roofing contractors are taking more initiative with recycling programs and accepting larger roles in developing a clean supply of tear-off asphalt shingles. Private paving contractors, hot-mix asphalt (HMA) producers and shingle recycling companies have invested millions of dollars to purchase equipment and develop recycling facilities. These trends are growing because of the favorable environmental and economic benefits of using recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) as a supplement in HMA. One of the greatest barriers to this technology’s accelerated growth is the lack of adequate, clean supplies of tear-off asphalt shingles. According to the Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA), more than 11 million tons of roofing material is placed in landfills every year. New systems are being developed to help educate and train roofing companies of all sizes to become involved in these new shingle recycling programs. Asphalt shingles are currently the most commonly recycled materials. This paper summarizes selected case study roofing materials recycling programs in the United States. New initiatives and technologies also are influencing the recycling of other low-slope roofing materials from commercial and industrial buildings. This paper highlights the development of best practice recommendations for roofing material recycling. It is based on current recycling programs, processes and training systems available for roofing contractors. One example shingle recycling program highlighted was developed with the help of David Coddington as part of the Roofs To Roads Colorado program. The Colorado training program provided a pathway for financial reward for roofing contractors, as well as a means to assure clean, high-quality asphalt shingles are recycled. Based on jobsite sorting (also known as “source separation”) of tear-off shingles for recycling, the Colorado program is one of the viable methods for collecting roofing materials. Roofing contractors, haulers and shingle recycling facility operators all need additional accurate up-to-date information regarding how to manage the minor risk of asbestos exposure in part to address state and local regulations. With proper pre-planning and ongoing quality control programs, the risk of asbestos exposure can be efficiently managed. Employee awareness and visual identification by trained personnel are two important tools in an overall quality control system within a modern shingle recycling program. Visual identification, combined with sampling and laboratory testing, should be part of the overall risk management plan. This paper identifies two complimentary options: testing from samples taken “on the roof” before tear-off, and testing “at the recycling center” after loads are tipped. Both options are viable and the exact mix of testing systems will depend on local conditions. The industry as a whole is rapidly moving into recycling systems for a wide variety of low-slope roofing materials, such as EPDM, PVC, and rigid insulation. With the help of leadership from manufacturers in the roofing industry, more opportunities will exist for commercial roofing contractors to plan and implement material reuse and recycling programs. Roofing contractors - individually and collectively - can become a more powerful voice in development of new recycling systems. Design and implementation of new recycling programs will benefit from roofing contractors’ knowledge and materials experience.