April is Earth Month, with Earth Day on April 22, and Owens Corning, through its roofing and asphalt business, invites homeowners to take the shingle recycling pledge as a way to show their commitment to keep old roofs out of landfills by working with roofing contractors who practice sustainable building practices.
"According to the Northeast Recycling Center, up to 10 million tons of recyclable shingles are removed from the roofs of U.S. homes and buildings annually," said Barry Hornbacher, Owens Corning Roofing and Asphalt Shingle Recycling program manager. "By pledging to work with professionals committed to recycling torn-off shingles into pavement, homeowners are helping to ensure their roofing renovation will have less of an environmental impact."
To take the pledge in markets where recycling is available, homeowners simply visit the Owens Corning site to sign up. In addition to connecting with local contractors committed to shingle recycling, everyone who takes the pledge will also receive a free reusable tote bag while supplies last. Homeowners who do not currently have shingle recycling available in their area can show their interest in shingle recycling by filling out a form on the website, which will help Owens Corning Roofing & Asphalt rally support from contractors in their local community.
Established in 2009, in alliance with Heritage Environmental Services and Earth911.com, the shingle recycling program is currently active in 39 markets nationwide. Since its inception, the program has recycled more than 95,000 tons of asphalt shingles, the equivalent of saving 95,000 barrels of oil.
"Today's homeowners are more involved than ever in selecting the materials and building processes used on their home, with a greater emphasis on sustainable solutions," said Hornbacher. "By taking the shingle recycling pledge, homeowners will gain a better understanding about the positive impact recycling shingles has on the environment and learn how they can become more involved in the process in their local community. Homeowners looking for green roofing solutions can now choose recycling to achieve definitive results."
Through a change to Owens Corning Roofing & Asphalt's website, homeowners can search for reputable contractors in their area that already participate in the program. Homeowners can also use the site to connect contractors not already involved in the program with a conveniently located recycling facility by selecting Help Green this Contractor. Additionally, the site features an informational video about shingle recycling, educational resources and tools to help homeowners choose the best roof for their needs and budget once they're ready to replace their roof.
"Owens Corning Roofing & Asphalt is dedicated to providing homeowners with high quality, beautiful roofs, but we are also just as dedicated to keeping as many old shingles out of landfills as possible," said Hornbacher. "We will continue to work with homeowners and contractors to further our commitment to reduce waste and save energy."
For more information about the program and to locate a contractor that recycles in your area, visit Owens Corning.
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