Options for Asphalt Shingle Recycling

By far the most frequently used roofing material, asphalt shingles make up 10% of CRD waste. Asphalt shingles are made of an organic or fiberglass mat saturated with asphalt and covered by a surface of mineral granules. Newer shingles typically are made with a fiberglass mat, while older shingles were likely to be made with an organic (cellulose) material.

In addition to being a significant part of the CRD waste stream, the nails in shingle waste cause problems with landfill equipment. As a result, there is often a higher tipping fee for shingles.

To prepare shingles for use in new products, the shingles must be ground to a specified size, and contaminants (nails, wood) removed. Grinding may be easier in the winter when the asphalt is more brittle. Shingles can stick together in hot weather, or from the heat of the equipment.

Because shingles contain asphalt, the most common recycling options involve feeding them back into processes that use asphalt. Shingles are harder than paving asphalt and higher temperatures would be needed to incorporate them into a paving mix. The used shingle mix would have to be free of contaminants. Also, the use of shingles in paving mixes would have to be tested and approved for use by Sask. Highways.

Shingles have been tested in the U.S. in “cold patch” asphalt mixes used for filling potholes and cracks. Cold patch is made from asphalt, aggregate and a solvent. Up to 25% of cold patch could be made from ground shingles. The fiberglass from the shingles increases the strength of the patch.

Ground, cleaned shingles can also be used as aggregate in road beds.

A potential, but minor, issue with shingle recycling is asbestos. No new shingles contain asbestos, but there may be small amounts on roofs being replaced. The total asbestos content of asphalt shingles manufactured in 1963 was only 0.02 percent; in 1977, it dropped to 0.00016 percent. Due to the practice of covering a worn out roof with new shingles, there may continue to be a very small amount of asbestos in the shingle waste stream until about 2016. Shingle recyclers typically deal with this issue by testing incoming loads.

In Saskatoon, shingles can be taken to Allrock Hauling; call 306 933-1881.

For more information, visit www.shinglerecycling.org.

(Source: March 2006 WasteWatch)

Shingle Recycler in Alberta

Environmental Processors Inc., the Shingle Recycling Specialists, flipped the switch on July 20, 2010 to process waste shingles for recycling at their specialized shingle recycling facility, located at 6433-20th Street in Edmonton. Processed shingles are sent directly to asphalt producers to be used in hot mix asphalt cement.

For further information, contact Shane Ducholke, President, Environmental Processors, at 780.937.8402.

(Source: RCA Connector in November 2010 WasteWatch)

Back to CRD main page

Back to Resources main page

Back to Home page