By The Coffee Shops®.

Challenging contractors to think differently about recycling.

While much of the industry's conversation centers on what happens when asphalt shingles and pavements reach the end of their useful life, at the Shingle Recycling Forum, Michael Forrester of SoyLei argued that preserving and maintaining those materials throughout their service life can improve both performance and recyclability.

"Our goal is not just making new pavements," Michael explained. "We're also interested in maintaining pavements and shingles that already exist."

Tackling the challenges of recycled asphalt

SoyLei develops additive technologies for new pavement construction, pavement maintenance and recycled material applications. A significant portion of the company's work focuses on helping producers increase recycled content in asphalt mixes without sacrificing performance.

One of the biggest challenges in recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) is the condition of the aged binder.

According to Michael, recycled materials often contain highly oxidized asphalt binders that become extremely stiff over time. In some cases, the material is so brittle that SoyLei's laboratory team has nicknamed it "moon rock" because it resembles a powdery dust. "That means you have a binder that is incredibly stiff and ready to crack," he said.

To address this issue, SoyLei has developed reactive rejuvenation technology designed to break up oxidized asphalt structures and restore balance within the binder. Unlike traditional rejuvenators that primarily replace lost oils, SoyLei's chemistry works to stabilize the relationship between key asphalt components, helping improve overall pavement performance.

Looking beyond binder properties

For Michael, success isn't simply measured by softer binder properties. The company's focus is on producing pavements that can satisfy modern balanced mix design requirements while delivering real-world field performance.

He noted that testing has shown the technology can help improve pavement characteristics beyond basic binder measurements, supporting mixtures capable of meeting demanding performance expectations.

As agencies and contractors continue seeking ways to incorporate higher levels of recycled content, technologies that maintain performance while increasing sustainability are becoming increasingly important.

Rethinking roof rejuvenation

Michael also addressed SoyLei's work in the roofing industry, where the company offers a roof treatment designed to improve shingle flexibility and support granule retention. However, he emphasized that SoyLei views roof rejuvenation differently than many products traditionally associated with the category.

"We're not trying to treat this as something that's a Hail Mary," Michael said. Rather than waiting until a roof has reached the end of its life, SoyLei advocates for a preventative maintenance approach that starts earlier in the roof's lifespan.

The goal is to help property owners care for their existing assets while extending usability and preserving material quality. "We want to start thinking about roof maintenance as something that is truly preventative maintenance," Michael explained.

Better maintenance can lead to better recycling

One of the most compelling points in Michael's presentation was the connection between maintenance and recycling quality. By preserving pavements and roofing systems while they are still in service, materials may remain in better condition when they eventually enter the recycling stream.

"If you actually maintain the pavements you've got, or the shingles you've got, when you come to do the recycling, they're going to be in better condition," Michael said. "Your recycling process is going to be smoother. You're going to have a higher quality product at the end."

That perspective shifts the conversation from end-of-life recycling alone to a more complete circular approach that includes preservation, maintenance, reuse and eventual recycling.

What's next?

Michael also shared several areas of ongoing research and development, including technologies that use recycled shingles and pavement materials to create high-performance crack seal products.

Additional work is focused on developing practical pavement solutions that fall between unbound aggregate roads and traditional hot-mix asphalt, providing more durable options without some of the drawbacks associated with conventional approaches.

The company is also exploring future applications for recycled materials in new roofing products.

Throughout the presentation, Michael reinforced a simple but powerful message: sustainability isn't just about recycling more materials. It's also about helping those materials last longer and perform better before they ever reach the recycling stage.

By The Coffee Shops®.

Scaling asphalt shingle recycling depends on making the process easier, more accessible and better integrated into roofing operations.

At the 2026 Shingle Recycling Forum in Raleigh, North Carolina, roofing professionals discussed the opportunities and challenges surrounding the recovery and recycling of tear-off shingles.

Moderated by Karen Edwards, chief operating officer of RoofersCoffeeShop®, the conversation featured Bailey Morris Shey, founder and president of Cadmus Construction and Rich Carroll, founder of Carroll Consulting Group.

The discussion opened with a reminder of the scale of the opportunity at hand. Roofing waste is estimated to generate 15 to 18 million tons of material annually, with asphalt accounting for roughly 20% of that total. At the same time, current shingle recycling rates are estimated at just 6% to 10%, leaving significant room for improvement.

Recycling starts before crews arrive

For Bailey, successful recycling begins long before tear-off starts. "We make sure that the team that's going to show the jobsite with my field supervisors knows where the demo is going to go and how we are separating it," she said.

Cadmus Construction recycles on every project, separating asphalt shingles, metals and plastics throughout the tear-off process. But she emphasized that recycling cannot be an afterthought. "It needs to start from leadership down all the way to your crews," Bailey explained. "It needs to be a mission that runs through and through a company."

She noted that early attempts to separate materials after the fact proved inefficient and difficult to sustain. Instead, crews now follow a planned process that keeps materials separated from the start.

Accessibility remains a major challenge

While contractors may be willing to recycle, access to recycling facilities remains a significant obstacle. Bailey shared that her company transports recyclable shingles to Fayetteville, North Carolina, which can require a drive of an hour or more from many project locations. Fuel costs, labor and disposal fees all become part of the overall project cost.

Accessibility emerged repeatedly throughout the discussion as one of the biggest barriers to wider participation.

Rich agreed that convenience matters. Contractors operate on tight schedules and established workflows. Introducing additional travel, sorting requirements or uncertainty can disrupt production and increase costs. "I would have my companies do more recycling if the process was a little more convenient," Rich said.

He explained that crews and project managers often have established disposal routines. If recycling facilities are farther away, have restrictive hours or create delays, participation can quickly become impractical.

Why process matters in roofing

Both panelists emphasized that roofing companies succeed through repeatable processes.

Rich noted that changing those processes take time, particularly when subcontractors, haulers and multiple job sites are involved. "If we can't recycle everywhere, then we're changing the process from day to day," he said. "To me, that's a struggle."

For contractors, recycling programs must fit naturally into existing operations. Otherwise, added labor, contamination concerns and transportation challenges can create resistance, especially on competitively bid projects where margins are tight.

The role of subcontractors

A recurring theme throughout the panel was the importance of subcontractors in the recycling conversation.

According to Bailey, many roofing company owners do not always know what happens to tear-off materials once they leave a jobsite. "I called six roofing company owners today that are friends of mine and they really don't know what happens to the waste after the sub takes it off the jobsite," she said.

Because subcontractors often work for multiple roofing companies, panelists suggested they could become powerful drivers of change if recycling credentials, training programs or certifications were available.

"If accreditation is something to consider, then we should look at our Latin community and start providing that to them," Bailey said. "The subcontractors are going towards accreditations that can help them get more work."

Creating educational opportunities and recycling-focused credentials could help subcontractors market themselves while simultaneously encouraging broader adoption of recycling practices.

Could distributors help bridge the gap?

The panel also explored the potential role of roofing distributors. Because contractors already visit distributors regularly for materials, several participants suggested distributors could become a natural connection point between contractors and recyclers.

Possible opportunities included:

• Serving as transfer or collection locations
• Sharing educational materials
• Connecting contractors with recycling programs
• Helping facilitate documentation and reporting

However, panelists acknowledged that challenges such as staffing, operating hours, contamination concerns and logistics would need to be addressed before such programs could become widespread.

Documentation creates value

Another opportunity identified during the discussion was better tracking and reporting. Bailey noted that contractors often receive little information about what happens to recycled materials after they are dropped off. Access to documentation, recycling reports and diversion data could help contractors demonstrate their environmental efforts to customers. "We don't have any way of tracking it," she said.

Audience members from recycling organizations responded that many facilities already provide automated weight tickets, recycling reports and diversion records. The challenge, they suggested, may be creating greater awareness among contractors that these tools already exist.

Incentives may accelerate adoption

When asked what could motivate greater participation, both panelists pointed to incentives and recognition programs.

Rich suggested that a national recycling certification could give contractors a way to distinguish themselves in the marketplace. "If I can show that to a customer, because I do believe the customers out there want to recycle, I think that'll go a long way," he said.

Bailey compared the idea to existing manufacturer certification programs that reward contractors through training, credentials and marketing support.

The panel agreed that recognition, documentation and marketing benefits could help offset the additional effort required to recycle materials.

A shared responsibility

As the discussion concluded, the panel returned to a central theme: increasing shingle recycling will require collaboration across the roofing supply chain. Contractors, subcontractors, recyclers, manufacturers and distributors all have a role to play in creating a system that is practical, accessible and financially sustainable. "If it was more accessible, if it was documented more, if it was more local, if it was incentivized," Bailey said, contractors would be far more likely to participate.

With industry goals calling for significant increases in shingle recycling over the next decade, the panel made one thing clear: success will depend not only on technology and infrastructure, but on designing programs that work for the people standing on the roof.

By The Coffee Shops®.

Construction recycling experts share how used roofing materials can go from landfill burden to valuable resources.

The annual Shingle Recycling Forum has become more than just a gathering of industry stakeholders. Andrea Johnson, executive director of the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA), says it represents more than two decades of collaboration, advocacy and determination to keep valuable roofing materials out of landfills. Opening the forum, Andrea reflected on the significance of the event's longevity and the commitment of the people and organizations that have supported it from the beginning.

"This is the 11th forum," she said. "That means that over two decades, the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association has been fighting to recover and keep this material out of landfill."

She noted that many attendees have been involved since the earliest days of the initiative, helping transform what was once a niche effort into a recognized movement focused on recovering and reusing asphalt shingles.

A partnership-driven effort

Andrea emphasized that the industry's progress has been possible because multiple national organizations have aligned around a common goal. Representatives from the asphalt pavement industry, roofing industry and recycling community continue to work together to create viable pathways for recovering and utilizing recycled shingles.

She highlighted the remarkable support shown by industry leaders who have consistently championed the cause, attending forums and advocating for greater adoption of recycled materials over the past 20 years. "Think about the support that we're giving each other," Andrea said. "All these major national associations working together for one material."

That collaboration remains essential as stakeholders work to increase recycling rates and create stronger end markets for recovered shingle material.

Turning waste into value

At the heart of the effort is a simple reality: enormous volumes of asphalt shingles continue to end up in landfills despite their potential value. Those on the front lines of recycling operations see the challenge every day. "It is staggering, the volume of asphalt shingles that are thrown into a landfill," Andrea shared.

What makes that statistic even more frustrating, she explained, is that the material can be recovered and reused. "These can not only be recovered, they have good value," she added. The challenge is not simply collecting the material. It is creating consistent demand and confidence among end users who can put recycled shingles to work in new applications.

Building stronger markets

While the industry has made significant progress, Andrea acknowledged that shingle recycling continues to face ups and downs. Processors and recyclers often experience fluctuations in demand, creating uncertainty for businesses working to divert shingles from landfills. The journey has been anything but linear. Forums like this one play an important role in helping stakeholders share ideas, discuss challenges and identify opportunities to strengthen end markets.

One area of focus is expanding acceptance among transportation agencies. Andrea pointed to departments of transportation already incorporating recycled shingle materials into road construction and challenged attendees to consider how more agencies can be brought on board.

"How can we get more DOTs online?" she asked. "How can we convince people and give them the confidence so they're not only wanting to use this material, but they are also seeking to use this material?"

Looking toward the future

Beyond current applications such as hot mix asphalt and road base, Andrea encouraged attendees to look ahead to emerging innovations that could create new opportunities for recycled shingles. Research institutions, universities and industry partners are investing time and resources into identifying additional uses for these materials, expanding the possibilities for recycling and recovery.

"This is exciting," Andrea said. "The investment and the time and economic investment across not just people in the industry, but our universities." She also highlighted the importance of developing the next generation of leaders, researchers and innovators who will continue advancing the cause.

As the forum continues to evolve, its mission remains unchanged: bringing together stakeholders committed to finding practical solutions, creating stronger markets and ensuring that valuable roofing materials stay out of landfills and in productive use.

By The Coffee Shops®. 

Industry leaders will gather in Raleigh to discuss practical solutions for recovering roofing waste and expanding asphalt shingle recycling. 

Roofing contractors and distributors are on the front line of shingle recovery, making their perspectives critical to the future of recycling. On October 14, the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA) is hosting its 11th Shingle Recycling Forum, bringing industry leaders, contractors and recyclers together in Raleigh, North Carolina, to discuss roofing waste, environmental impact and opportunities to grow the recycling business. 

Dan Horton of ASR Systems shared that the forum is celebrating its 22nd anniversary. The event will focus on reducing roofing’s carbon footprint while advancing the technology needed to extract and process recyclable materials more effectively and affordably. “There’s fifteen to eighteen million tons of roofing waste being thrown away at landfills. Twenty percent of the material being thrown away is asphalt, a commodity that is very valuable,” Dan said. 

The scale of that waste creates both an industry challenge and an opportunity. Asphalt roofing materials contain aggregates that can be recovered and reused rather than sent to already crowded landfills. Forum participants will explore how improved recycling processes can help make those materials more accessible and usable. 

Karen Edwards will moderate a panel featuring roofing contractors and distributors. The discussion will give these stakeholders an opportunity to explain the realities they face and identify what they need to make shingle recycling easier and more efficient. 

Bringing contractors, distributors, recyclers and technology leaders into the same conversation is an important step toward developing workable solutions. Their experience can help the industry understand the operational barriers to recovery and what it will take to scale recycling programs. 

Registration for the Shingle Recycling Forum is open through the event website and the Construction and Demolition Recycling Association at cdrecycling.org. 

Learn more about the Shingle Recycling Forum and how roofing professionals are working together to advance sustainable recycling practices.

CDRA brings roofing professionals and recycling stakeholders together to create next wave of shingle recycling. 

The Coffee Shops®, the award-winning online communities where the industries meet for technologies, safety, information and education for the construction trades of roofing, metal, coatings and outdoor living are pleased to welcome the Construction and Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA) into their community. 

Since 1994, CDRA has served as a nationwide forum for construction and demolition recycling. Their membership includes professionals from all parts of the industry, including recyclers, contractors, manufacturers, haulers, public agencies, sustainability professionals and other stakeholders working to reduce waste, reclaim valuable materials and develop profitable end markets.  

CDRA is the only trade association focused on promoting recycling construction and demolition materials. They do this on two levels, “by providing information to the marketplace and others allied to the industry’s needs and by promoting the needs of the C&D recyclers to lawmakers and regulators throughout the country.”  

One example of how they do this is their upcoming Shingle Recycling Forum. This is the premier event for shingle recycling and will take place October 13-15, 2026, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Recyclers will connect with manufacturers, asphalt plant operators, road pavers, Department of Transportation officials, technology providers and other professionals for industry presentations and networking.  

Additionally, the event will host a variety of sessions designed to help attendees understand the growing interest is recycling roofing materials. One such session will be led by The Coffee Shops’ own Karen Edwards titled “The Roofing Contractor Perspective: Critical Stakeholders in Shingle Recycling” from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The session promises to bring roofing distributors and contractors to the table to discuss the realities and opportunities surrounding shingle recovery, along with what it will take to scale recycling efforts.  

Overall, as higher oil prices and government initiatives create new opportunities across the construction industry for product circularity, CDRA’s events, education, advocacy and networking have emerged as an invaluable resource for experienced professionals who understand the challenges and opportunities of construction materials management. 

The Coffee Shops are proud to welcome Construction and Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA)!