The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) and the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council (MSR&PC) will host a demonstration on the environmental and biobased benefits of soy rejuvenates to extend the life of roof shingles on Monday, July 1, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in Thief River Falls, Minn.
According to industry estimates, about 12 million tons of asphalt roof shingles in the U.S. wind up in landfills each year. Recycling asphalt shingles is only partially effective because it is hard to separate the non-recyclable materials (like wood and nails) during the recycling process.
At this event, AURI, MSR&PC, and Roof Maxx of Grand Rapids MN, will discuss the environmental advantages of using a soy methyl ester emulsion (SMEE) on roof shingles. The product has been shown to be effective in extending the life of shingles and keeping them out of landfills. They will also conduct a demonstration of the SMEE application and provide information on roofing rejuvenates on commercial products and opportunities for increased utilization of soy rejuvenates in Minnesota.
According to a recent study by The Ohio State University, approximately seven percent of U.S. roof shingles are replaced each year. The study found that 5.6 billion pounds of landfill waste could be avoided each year, plus 1.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in emissions if only one percent of single-family homes (about 15 percent of annual replacements) applied a SMEE product to their roof shingles.
EVENT DETAILS:
What: Roof Maxx Soy-Based Roof Rejuvenation Application
Where: 503 LaBree Avenue N, Thief River Falls, Minn.
When: Monday, July 1, 2024, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. Members of the media are invited to attend. Please contact Becky Philipp (bphilipp@auri.org) to register.
About AURI
The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute is a nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate the expansion of the agricultural economy by empowering expanded uses and markets of agriculturally derived products. It accomplishes this by using science and technology to help develop new uses for agricultural products. It collaborates globally, acts regionally, and is known as an economic catalyst for Minnesota with a focus on bioindustrial products and food. AURI provides a broad range of services, including applied research and development, scientific assistance, and a targeted network across the value chain to foster collaboration. To learn more, visit auri.org.