Shingles to Roadways

Fort Wayne, Indiana has now become the sixth city in the United States to become a member of an alliance between Owens Corning and Heritage Environmental Services to establish a Shingle Recycling Program.
The new shingle recycling center is located at 11400 Bluffton Road in Fort Wayne, Indiana
All recycling programs of this type need to build a coalition of participants in order to bring the concept to fruition.
During the ribbon cutting ceremony on November 4, 2010, the first local contractors were honored for signing the Shingle Recycling Pledge, which commits to 100 percent recycling of asphalt roofing shingles removed. The recycled asphalt is then used as pavement for our roadways!
I was so excited about this newest concept and the involvement of the city of Fort Wayne that I wanted to discuss this fresh and innovative program with Barry Williams, owner of A & B Construction, the first contractor that signed the Shingle Recycling Pledge.

ABS) Tell me about your business, when you began operation, how many employees, and how you got interested in recycling.

BW) I started the business in 1984. I graduated from Homestead High School, and then went on to ITT Tech. There I graduated with a degree in Architectural Engineering and from there; I decided to go into business. We normally employee 5 to 30 people depending on the time of year. My wife and I are continually trying to find ways to incorporate recycling into our children's lives to show them the importance of what it means to our world.

Here at A&B, we have always saved our aluminum and metal for recycling, but until now didn't have any way to recycle the shingle material.

ABS) How did you hear about the Shingles Recycling Program?

BW) Jodi, our Owens Corning representative first informed us on the shingle recycling program and we were very excited to join in. Owens Corning, Upstate Recycling and Reese Wholesale all joined together to make this program happen!

ABS) What made you decide to sign up?

BW) Asphalt shingles take over 200 years to break down in the land fill. Now they can be recycled, helping to provide material for paving asphalt roads. This saves on petroleum and landfill space! Even the homeowner can feel good knowing their shingles are not going to fill up the landfill, but instead they will actually be used to improve our roads. It's a win-win situation!

ABS) What is the process involved in recycling the shingles? What requirements did you have to meet to sign up?

BW) Our employees separate all paper wrappers, cardboard, wood and any other items from the shingles. These items are often recycled as well. A&B Construction, LLC was the first to take a pledge to recycle whenever possible and we encourage other companies to do so also.

ABS) Besides doing good, what other benefits will your business receive from this new endeavor?

BW) Many of our customers appreciate the recycling program and feel good that their old roof will be going for something good instead of filling up our land fills. When an opportunity to help the environment and help to provide material to save our oil is available, then everyone should feel good!

Barry Williams is a stellar example of a solid Fort Wayne businessman who is employing an innovative recycling method, such as the Shingles Recycling Program. His well-respected and ethical business has stepped up as an example to all business people in the area to show that all of us can do our part when it comes to being environmentally responsible. There is a whisper that there are more recycling programs to come! My guess is that Barry Williams will be first in line to utilize every opportunity that comes along!