How many tons of asphalt shingles would you guess Muth and Company could recycle in one year? 10 tons? 100 tons? In 2011, we recycled 757 tons of asphalt shingles and were named a GAF Certified Green Roofer. GAF, a leading manufacturer of roofing products recognizes professional roofing contractors for their recycling efforts and Muth and Company is proud to receive this certification.
Every little bit helps in the world of sustainability and 757 tons is the approximate weight of 126 elephants-that’s more than a little bit! Picture that huge amount of asphalt going into a recycling center instead of a landfill. The dramatic expansion of the landfill inspired Chad Muth to make the commitment to run a green roofing business. He explains, “In 20 years, I saw the landfill go from being four stories deep to four stories high. I felt strongly that this wasn’t good and I was going to do something about it.” And boy, did he do something! Over 11 million asphalt shingles enter landfills every year. Roofing materials are made for durability and don’t decompose easily, they are perfect for projects that require strength and durability. Muth and Company goes out of our way to deliver used shingles to a recycling center in Williamsport, Ohio. Not every roofer makes that extra effort, most drop the shingles off at the local landfill and then it’s on to the next job. We think it’s worth going that extra mile, or more accurately, the extra 50 miles for the sake of the environment and we like knowing the shingles will be repurposed for things like road materials. In addition the Muth team has made a commitment to recycling aluminum metals from gutter projects and to living greener in their offices and homes.
Talking about being committed to the environment is a popular trend in business these days but GAF and Muth aren’t just talking, we’re taking action and making a difference in saving the planet…one TON of roofing shingles at a time.
