WINNIPEG — Manitoba drivers could soon be rolling over asphalt from recycled shingles.
The province recently announced road crews will begin testing asphalt-paving mixtures that include recycled asphalt shingles.
“Our government is making great efforts to invest in eco-friendly infrastructure in support of transforming waste in Manitoba,” said Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler in a statement. “Being able to divert reusable waste from our landfills, such as shingles, allows our province to reduce its environmental footprint, and be in the forefront by adopting new and innovative products.”
Crews will begin by testing the method on Ethan Boyer Way, a new service road near the Brady Landfill. The project will use 90 tonnes of recycled asphalt shingles, enough to cover 45 residential roofs. According to the province, Winnipeg and surrounding areas produce more than 30,000 tonnes of tear-off shingles per year that end up in landfills and take approximately 300 years to decompose.
Manitoba Infrastructure, in conjunction with the University of Manitoba, will monitor the performance of the materials used over the next five years.
“We will continue to monitor Ethan Boyer Way over the years for differences in long-term performance such as cracking and rutting,” said Schuler. “As we all know, nature offers us a variety of weather conditions and we can monitor if the paving materials stand up to Manitoba’s harsh climate.”
Testing and monitoring will allow data to be collected and analyzed for future planning of construction projects using environmentally friendly recycled materials.
Interesting article. In the larger context of Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal or all of Canada, how many tons of asphalt shingles are put into landfills every year? That question and how changing that equation could dramatically alter, not only the North American roofing industry, but also its contribution to global warming might make for a ground breaking article. The truth about asphalt shingles is that they typically only last 15-20 years. Any roof inspection agency worth their salt will acknowledge this. The inherent problems with this are not just the landfill issue, but also the wasteful attempted repairs of these roofs and the damaging moisture ingress that costs owners not just monetarily, but also creates serious health issues with mold etc., which is a serious hidden problem on the west coast, that, despite some great efforts, has remained unaddressed in most instances.
Shingles last only 15-20 years if they are the old organic three tab. Improper roof ventilation is the reason for premature roof failures. New shingles are glass reinforced and are superior in performance if ventilation is correct and installation is to manufacturer’s recommendations. Any pick up truck roofer can whack on a shingle roof but can they do it properly?