Recycling and sustainability are in the news and on the minds of everyone as threats of global warming and climate change become more obvious. Following the recommendations of environmental experts, many companies are seeking sustainable solutions. When companies work together, they can share solutions that can make a difference for the good of the earth.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. The EPA says that “to pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations.”
Modern landfills are engineered to collect and manage different kinds of waste to protect the environment from contaminants. Industrial waste landfills were created to dispose of industrial solid waste, which consists of materials used for roadwork, excavation, demolition, and renovation. This includes asphalt from roads and asphalt roofing shingles. Over the past 35 years, the landfill idea has shifted from ‘waste management’ to ‘sustainable materials management’.
No matter where you go, there are wall-to-wall rooftops across the country from residential neighborhoods to commercial landscapes. Each year, approximately 13 million tons of asphalt shingles are ripped from roofs and thrown into landfills.
Roofing companies must often rely on:
- Commercial hauling to recycle roofing and construction debris
- Roofing products that are sustainable or offer recyclable solutions
- Innovative concepts that offer alternatives to roof replacement
Commercial hauling and recycling
Adam Quenneville Roofing partners with a variety of companies for the good of the earth. USA of Wilbraham, MA, handles construction and demolition waste, including the disposal and recycling of asphalt shingles. USA is a commercial waste recycler and demolition contractor, and they are affiliated with F&G Recycling of East Windsor, CT.
According to the USA website, USA has adopted a system that sorts materials to “effectively recover wood, metal, and other materials from construction debris, and to prevent usable materials from being landfilled.” USA helps to develop construction and demolition recycling programs that comply with LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), and with requirements set by the U.S. Green Building Council. They also repurpose a wide range of materials to create landscaping materials such as red brick gravel, topsoil, concrete, and road pavement. USA’s recycling efforts also include roofing shingles.
Roofing Products for a better future
GAF® – GAF is the leading roofing manufacturer in North America, and Adam Quenneville Roofing has earned the status of GAF Master Elite Contractor for more than 20 years. The GAF website states: “At GAF, our promise to Protect What Matters Most includes our people, our communities, and our planet.”
GAF recognizes that sustainability is an opportunity to invest in the shared future of the GAF business and the planet, and they are expanding their existing sustainable practices, processes, and solutions. Some recent projects include adding ‘roof-integrated solar options’ because GAF believes there is “Energy in Every Roof”, a newly-patented manufacturing process that produces asphalt shingles with “post-consumer recycled shingle material”, and GAF has updated its manufacturing operations to reduce carbon emission. They also offer a broad range of sustainable products and tools to support green building rating systems, including LEED.
Sustainable Commercial Flat Roofing
Duro-Last® – Sustainability has been practiced by Duro-Last for more than 20 years, and that’s one of the reasons why Adam Quenneville Roofing relies on Duro-Last for its commercial single-ply PVC roofing membranes. Duro-Last’s founder John R. Burt came up with the idea of reusing old PVC roofs by turning them into resilient flooring, walkway pads and concrete expansion joints. To date, the company has recycled more than 80 million pounds of PVC material through sustainable manufacturing operations and the company’s Recycle Your Roof program. They also published a product-specific Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for single-ply PVC roofing membranes. They have received awards for Excellence in Recycling.
Astec® – Flat roof restoration can save commercial companies 50% over the price of flat roof replacement. ASTEC’s Multi-Layer Roof Restoration System is installed over existing roofing material, keeping flat roofing debris out of the landfills for years to come. It’s a system offered to commercial properties by Adam Quenneville Roofing. Astec Industries is committed to strengthening global sustainability at the plant and on the construction site. Astec complies with all applicable environmental laws, regulations, policies, and standards. They believe in natural resource conservation and sustainable business solutions for product development and operation.
Innovative alternatives to roof replacement
Adam Quenneville Roofing offers affordable alternatives to roof replacement with the help of two innovative companies. Roof Maxx® extends the life of an aging asphalt roof for five years, guaranteed. Roof Shampoo® improves the condition and appearance of an asphalt roof to delay roof replacement by making the roof look almost new again.
Roof Maxx® – When asphalt shingles age, they tend to dry out and lose their flexibility. In the past, roof replacement was the answer. Roof Maxx offers an environmentally safe roof rejuvenation process for commercial and residential properties. Roof Maxx restores the flexibility and waterproofing of shingles for five years, guaranteed. With additional applications, it can extend the life of a roof for up to 15 years. Roof Maxx uses a soy fusion technology to soak shingles in an all-natural bio-oil, so shingles become more flexible, allowing them to expand and contract with temperature changes. Roof Maxx provides a green solution that’s 100% safe for the environment, pets, plants, and people, and it keeps shingles out of the landfills and recycling facilities for a longer period.
Roof Shampoo® – Commercial or residential roofing that looks stained and dull does not always need to be replaced. Roof Shampoo is an eco-friendly cleaning process that uses a proprietary, environmentally safe soap that does not contain dangerous chlorine bleach or phosphates. It will not harm landscaping or surfaces around the property. The process does not use high pressure power washing which could damage shingles. It is a safe and effective way to remove roof stains caused by algae without harming the environment. The result is a roof that looks almost brand new, and it will delay a trip to the landfill or recycling center.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Reducing, reusing, and recycling is important to our planet and to Adam Quenneville Roofing. We work with companies that value sustainability as much as we do, and we will do whatever it takes to be a responsible roofing company for our customers and our earth. Thank you to everyone who has helped us achieve a better solution. Together, we can make a difference.
Blog by Deborah O’Neill, Allen Media
Vice President of Operations
