Recycling has entered a number of construction sectors during
the past decade, and the roofing industry is certainly one of them.
Most construction sectors have taken the first step and developed a
way to recycle materials. But the real test is making a recycling
process available on a wide scale and within reasonable
expectations of cost efficiency to create a viable, ongoing
recycling network.
Those involved with the ongoing project to recycle EPDM roof
membranes successfully have reached this stage. After launching a
recycling initiative in 2006, the EPDM Roofing Association (ERA)
with Firestone Building Products Co. LLC, Indianapolis, and
Carlisle SynTec Inc., Carlisle, Pa., has seen its recycling project
expand from the pilot phase to the point where nearly 5 million
square feet of post-consumer EPDM roof membranes have been recycled
during the past three years, making it the leading recycled
low-slope roof membrane material in North America. In all, roughly
1.25 million pounds of reclaimed EPDM membrane have been diverted
from landfills.
With the active participation of roofing professionals
throughout the U.S. and portions of Canada, recycling EPDM roof
membranes has moved from the "potential" stage to a cost-efficient,
environmentally sound reality.
Log in or register for FREE access to this article and other Professional Roofing online content.