Northstar receives license for collection of asphalt shingles

Northstar Clean Technologies Inc., a Vancouver-based technology and recycling company focused on the recovery and reprocessing of asphalt shingles, has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Empower Environmental Solutions Ltd., has received its brokering license from Metro Vancouver. The brokering license allows Empower to handle recyclable material, specifically asphalt shingles, at its facility in Delta, British Columbia, and to collect tipping fees on the deposit of end of life or postconsumer asphalt shingles.  

Aidan Mills, president and CEO and director of Northstar, says, “This is an important step for Northstar and our Empower pilot facility. We are pleased to receive our brokering license from Metro Vancouver, which allows us to begin collecting discarded asphalt shingles and charging tipping fees at our Empower pilot facility. We receive numerous ongoing enquiries from potential customers, municipalities and manufacturers on our ability to collect shingles, and the award of this license enables that to be fully realized. This lays the platform for us to contribute to assisting Metro Vancouver in its quest towards zero waste by 2040 by providing a diversion alternative for single-use asphalt shingles that would otherwise be discarded in landfill. We believe we are strongly positioned to become a national solution to the burgeoning problem of asphalt shingle waste.” 

As of Aug. 2, tipping fees for construction and demolition waste at the Vancouver landfill located in Delta are approximately CAD$130 ($101) per metric ton. The landfill is approximately 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) from the company’s Empower pilot facility and approximately 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) from downtown Vancouver.  

Sales strategy for collection of asphalt shingles 

With the brokering license issued, the company says it plans to begin collecting shingles from waste hauling companies and roofing contractors. Northstar says tipping fees charged to customers will depend on the volume and term of shingle supply.  

The company also is sourcing additional shingles from manufacturers that have shingles that do not meet specifications and would otherwise be deposited in landfills.  

Northstar says it has received numerous inbound inquiries from other municipal jurisdictions about the possible reprocessing of their asphalt shingles at the Empower facility.  

Based on a 2012 report, the city of Vancouver has an estimated supply of 70,000 metric tons of asphalt shingles, Northstar says. The company currently has an internally estimated stockpile on-site at its Empower pilot facility of approximately 10,000 metric tons.