Roofing materials are durable and last a very long time, but they will eventually wear out and the damage will be irreparable. It will then be required that they be discarded and replaced with new ones. Nearly all shingles are made with asphalt, and sadly this material is seen in abundant dumps at landfill. Instead of just dumping your shingles, here are ideas of some things you could do with them.
- Donating
Search online for organizationswherepeople donate or trade shingles. Low income families go to these organizations to look for cheap or free roofing waste that they can use for their own paving projects.
- Recycling
When shingles are dumped in a landfill, it takes four centuries for them to breakdown. There’s no reason to waste old and damaged pieces that can be reused. Some compounds in the shingles can be used to improve the quality of cement. These useful composites include hot-mix and pavement asphalt. Shingles can also be used to create other materials which are beneficial for community paving projects, like roadways, this reducing the need for oil and other new resources.
There’s something you can do to help.
Locate all the shingles recycling centers around you. Before your next project commences, call them to ask about anything they may need and to make the necessary arrangements. Find out their specifications. For instance,
- Somecentersclean and grind the materials in-house because they are fully equipped with nail-removing magnets and grinders to ensure safe recycling;
- Somecenterswill only accept pre-ground shingles;
- Some centers will want you to pay them to accept and recycle the shingles;
- Centers accept your shingles as donations;
- Some centers pay you to give them recyclable shingles.
- Repurposing
What are some of the things that companies and individuals buy old shingles to repurpose them for?
- As driveway mats: some people use repurposed shingles on their driveway or garage floor, so that it soaks up oils and other auto fluids and prevents stains.
- Stair grips: old roofing shingles can be used to make grips for the stairs, and the process is fairly simple.
- Sidewalk anti-slip: instead of costly road salt, old repurposed shingles can be laid on walkways and sidewalks to add strength, stability and grip when people walk.
- Mulch: even in gardens or on the farm, old repurposed shingles can be spread to cover the top soil. Although such a cover makes watering your plants a bit of a challenge, it does keep weeds from growing and makes it difficult for pests to multiply.
Not all shingles can be refurbished or recycled or donated, though. Check that your shingles meets the requirements for multiple recycling centers, otherwise they may need to be thrown away. Not to worry, though. If your shingles doesn’t meet the guidelines, all you need to do is to contact a waste disposal company and ask for a dumpster bin rentals service. The company will dispose of your shingles properly for a shingles disposal fee.
Dump-Squad is one of the fastest growing disposal bin rental, dumpster rental, mini bin rental and junk removal company in Toronto, Ontario. We hope you have enjoyed reading this article and can take something away from it. In the event you are looking to hire any junk removal services or garbage bin rentals in the Toronto area, please feel free to contact us at any time!