National Recycling turns recycled shingles into jobs

metromode, 6/4/2009

National Recycling is making waste disposal sustainable and profitable with the help of something few people want anything to do with – old roof shingles.

Four partners have spent nearly two years perfecting the idea. They created the Romeo-based start-up about one year ago and based it on a core product – the Boxxster. The innovative dumpster is split into sections so roofers know where to throw old shingles, metal drip edges and wood.

"It makes it really easy for them to sort the debris so it can be recycled," says Dominic Ulisse, operations manager of National Recycling.

The shingles are ground up and recycled into an asphalt additive. Metal is recycled and the rest of the waste is either recycled or disposed of properly. The firm expects to keep 100,000 tons of roofing waste out of landfills this year with the Boxxster.

It has proven popular in the Metro Detroit, Flint and Ann Arbor areas. National Recycling is also looking at expanding into Grand Rapids, Battle Creek and Jackson, along with finding ways to recycle other types of construction waste, such as drywall.

That has allowed the firm to expand to 15 people, including six new hires within the last two months. It hopes to hire another 10-15 people by year-end, based solely on its recycling efforts.

"We're anticipating big growth this year in the state of Michigan," Ulisse says.

Source: Dominic Ulisse, operations manager of National Recycling
Writer: Jon Zemke