CFFA seeks vinyl roofing recycling participants

The Vinyl Roofing Division of the Cleveland-based Coated Fabrics and Film Association (CFFA) has launched an initiative called Pathway to Circularity, which is focused on advancing postconsumer recycling of mechanically fastened polyvinyl chloride (PVC) vinyl roofing.

CFFA says its program represents the next step in the vinyl roofing industry’s evolution toward a circular system, following up on an earlier initiative known as Pathway to Zero.

That first effort helped manufacturers achieve near-total elimination of production scrap, according to CFFA, while Pathway to Circularity has been designed to extend CFFA’s recycling efforts to end-of-life roofing materials.

“With Pathway to Circularity, we’re inviting the entire value chain—manufacturers, contractors, architects, and building owners—to participate in a regenerative roofing cycle,” says Bill Bellico, marketing chair of CFFA. “Our goal is to make recycling existing PVC roofing as straightforward and cost effective as possible, while demonstrating the long-term value of sustainable design."

PVC roofing membranes are inherently recyclable and can be repurposed repeatedly without significant loss of performance, according to CFFA.

Through mechanical separation and material recovery, old PVC roofs can be transformed into new roofing membranes and other products such as flooring, roof walkways and landscaping expansion joints, helping to prevent usable material from entering landfills.

Steps needed to recycle uninstalled PVC roofing can be easily added into most reroofing projects, CFFA says, and the costs are partially or wholly offset by the elimination of landfill fees, making recycling both environmentally and economically advantageous.

An instruction video prepared by CFFA demonstrating an eight-step process for recycling PVC roofing membranes is available on its website.