Owens Corning launches asphalt shingle recycling pilot facility

Owens Corning, based in Toledo, Ohio, recently launched a shingle recycling pilot facility established in partnership with ASR Systems, CRS Reprocessing Services and Indiana Shingle Recycling. The company says the facility, which is located in Indianapolis, will drive its work to reclaim asphalt shingle components and repurpose those raw materials into new shingles.

“We want to help distributors and contractors advance sustainability through high-performing, recycled shingles that protect homeowners’ most valuable asset,” says Gunner Smith, roofing president for Owens Corning. “As we start this next phase, we recognize those within Owens Corning and our collaborators who are sharing their knowledge, experience and expertise in the pilot operation.”

In early November, Owens Corning announced advancements toward its circular economy aspiration through enhanced shingle recycling efforts. The company intends to recycle 2 million tons of shingles annually in the U.S. by 2030.

Focused workstreams for shingle recycling include the pilot’s effort to recycle shingles into new shingles and recycling shingles into asphalt pavement. The company says it uses proprietary, patented processes at the pilot site to deconstruct postconsumer and postindustrial shingles and extract raw materials for reuse.

Following extraction, the materials will be transported to Owens Corning manufacturing facilities for testing in the production of new shingles made with recycled content.

The company says it is leveraging its expertise in asphalt innovation to recycle shingles into asphalt pavement. By working closely with paving contractors, Owens Corning scientists have provided technical guidance for incorporating recycled shingles in an asphalt mix design that meets federal and state paving performance requirements. The company has diverted 40 million pounds of used shingles from the landfill into pavement since 2020. The company says it is focused on proactively expanding this offering to additional markets to increase the volume of shingles diverted from landfills.

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