Once your roofing contractors are done installing your new roof, you will be left with a rather large pile of discarded roofing. You can pay to have them hauled off, or perhaps your roofing contractor will haul them off as part of your contract. You can also reuse and recycle these old materials. Roofing by Curry shares some ideas on how to do so.
Why Reuse and Recycle?
An average of 11 million tons of asphalt shingle waste is generated every year in the US alone. Taking steps to reduce the roofing waste that would otherwise end up in a landfill can result in significant waste reduction. Also, waste disposal services charge by weight. You can save on disposal costs by reusing or recycling most of the roofing waste.
Reusing Roof Materials
Roof companies recommend wearing safety equipment when handling discarded roofing material, as there may be nails or splinters in the pile. The following are some ideas to get you started:
- Asphalt Shingle Door Mats — Asphalt shingles have a rough surface that’s perfect as a doormat, and works best with discarded flat shingles. Asphalt shingles are easy to cut using a utility knife, and you can create one or more doormats by using hot glue to put the pieces together.
- Slate Flower Pots — You can assemble five slate pieces all of the same size, using small blocks of wood and screws for framing. Its natural dark gray color looks great on any landscape design.
- Paver Barriers — If you’re planning on installing concrete pavers, use discarded asphalt shingles as substrate. Choose shingles without cracks, line them up like tiles on the bare soil, and position the pavers on top. The rough outer surface keeps the pavers from moving around, and minimizes moisture absorption.
Recycling Asphalt Shingles
Another option you should consider is having your asphalt shingles picked up by a local recycler. Asphalt can be recycled many times without degrading, and can be used for building roads and new asphalt shingles. Organizations such as ShingleRecycling.org has resources that can help you locate a local shingle recycler.
Roofing by Curry is your leading provider of roof repair and installation services. Give us a call at (941)-270-4770 or fill out our contact form. We serve customers in Sarasota and surrounding areas.
