The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) hosted its third annual Virtual Roofing Recycling Forum on Nov. 18, convening industry stakeholders to confront a persistent challenge: replacements dominate the U.S. roofing market, generating massive volumes of tear-off shingles that are overwhelmingly sent to landfills.

“Recycling is more than just putting things in the blue bin,” said Joseph Shacat, senior advisor of sustainable construction at consulting firm ERG. “It's thinking about things like how can we make products that are more durable and last longer.”

This year's forum made one theme unmistakably clear: scaling asphalt shingle recycling requires coordinated action across the entire value chain. Progress won't come from mandates alone—it depends on market demand, contractor engagement, and lessons learned from regions that are already ahead of the curve.

"It's remarkable how much education and partnership there is among the suppliers and distributor and the contractor," said McKay Daniels, CEO of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA).

QUICK READ: 5 Takeaways

• Scaling Asphalt Shingle Recycling Requires Industry Coordination: Market demand and contractor participation are proving far more influential than mandates alone.
• Contractors are Pivotal Change Agents: They initiate the recycling process on jobsites, influence customer decisions, and serve as the essential link between manufacturers, regulations, and building owners.
• Recyclers Invest When They See Demand: Most contractors are pragmatic, adopting recycling when it aligns with business incentives.
• Education and Training is Expanding: Among these initiatives include the Roofing Alliance self-paced courses and Clemson University’s new roofing minor, with an additional sustainability-focused course arriving in 2026.
• Regulatory Activity is Accelerating: Regions like Orange County, Calif., are demonstrating successful recycling end markets and model legislation likely to spread nationwide, pushing more markets toward adoption.

That collaboration is crucial because recyclers follow market incentives. When contractors ask for recycling options and end-market buyers signal demand, recyclers are far more likely to invest in processing capacity. The opposite is just as true: without clear financial drivers, recycling infrastructure stalls. Daniels underscored this point, noting that "most contractors are agnostic—they are not ideologically wed to an outcome." Their practical mindset creates an opportunity: if recycling aligns with business interests, contractors are willing to adapt.

Contractors as Catalysts in the Circular Economy

Contractor participation is central to achieving industry-wide recycling goals. As Daniels emphasized, "The only way the manufacturing community will meet its recycling goals is through a partnership with contractors.”

Recycling is increasingly appearing in contractor sales presentations, though mainstream adoption is still emerging. In some areas, integration may remain slow for years. Still, contractors who include recycling in their proposals can differentiate themselves competitively—especially as regulations evolve.

Contractors also serve as critical intermediaries between regulations, manufacturers, designers, and building owners. They ensure compliance with sustainability practices and facilitate the first steps of the recycling process, which begins with removing and presorting old shingles before they are transported to recycling facilities. From there, recycled materials enter new applications, including roofing and road construction.

Rising Need for Education and Training

As sustainability expectations grow, education has become a vital component of contractor readiness. The industry now offers more structured training than ever before:

• Roofing Alliance Online Courses: The Roofing Alliance provides self-paced training covering roofing fundamentals, business principles, and management. Participants have up to 60 days to complete each course.
• Clemson University Roofing Minor: In partnership with the Roofing Alliance, Clemson University launched the nation’s first roofing minor, a 12-credit-hour program focused on roofing fundamentals, management, business leadership, and sustainable practices. This academic milestone strengthens workforce development and elevates roofing education nationwide.
• Upcoming Sustainability Course (2026): The Roofing Alliance is adding a fourth self-paced course dedicated to sustainability in 2026, aligning education with the industry's long-term recycling and environmental goals. These resources help contractors stay informed, support regulatory compliance, and engage customers with confidence.

The Regulatory Landscape

Orange County, Calif., represents one of the most advanced models of shingle recycling to date. There, recycled materials are being used in playground surfaces, running tracks, and select road construction projects. Although road-use formulations have encountered developmental setbacks, ongoing refinements to their chemical composition suggest future growth. Industry sustainability committees are working closely with contractors in these regions to capture insights and share best practices nationwide—positioning other markets to mature more quickly.

State and regional roofing affiliates vary significantly in their ability to support members on sustainability initiatives. Some have strong technical teams, while others operate with minimal resources. This inconsistency has prompted the national association to increase oversight and guidance. Historically, the NRCA focused primarily on federal issues, leaving state and local monitoring to regional affiliates. But as municipalities introduce regulations that directly affect recycling practices, the association is taking a more active role.

Daniels pointed to how quickly policy spreads: "Many city councils and state legislatures use model legislation—copy, paste, repeat. We can expect that to occur here." While no region is yet as advanced as Orange County, similar frameworks are poised to appear in other markets.

What's clear is that no single entity—manufacturers, contractors, recyclers, or associations—can scale asphalt shingle recycling alone. Each brings essential capabilities. Manufacturers develop products and set goals; contractors manage material flows and influence end-user decisions; and associations provide education, coordinate efforts, and monitor policy developments. Contractors who educate themselves and integrate recycling into customer conversations not only support industry sustainability efforts, but they also position themselves as leaders in their markets and accelerate systemic change.