Why Recycle Your Shingles

Recycling has become a way of life for our society. We watch out for plastic bottles, aluminum cans, paper products and so many other things that are a standard in our lives. These items take up a lot of room in the landfills - so think about how many newspapers or bottles it would take to cover your roof. Why wouldn't you consider recycling something that obviously takes up a large amount of space on our homes - and inevitably in our landfills?

Recycled shingles have several uses that make a big impact on the environment and our communities. Products produced with the use of recycled shingles include: Hot Mix Asphalt, Cold Patch, and Aggregate Base.

Hot Mix Asphalt is the largest user of recycled shingles. By using recycled shingles in their Hot Mix Asphalt, companies can reuse the petroleum and aggregate already in the shingles. This reduces the need for newly mined petroleum along with the demand for mined aggregate.

Cold Patch is used for patching holes in current roadways. This material is placed in the hole and then compressed by vehicles driving over it. These patches are believed to have a longer life span and is easy to apply.

Aggregate Base is used as the sub-base for road construction. The aggregate from the shingles is added to recycled asphalt and concrete to create a more stable base for roadways and parking lots.

Still looking for more information? Contact Great Lakes Shingle Recycling today!