Going Green: How Four Seasons Kanga Roof is Recycling Commercial Roofs in Metro Detroit

At Four Seasons Kanga Roof, we’re always looking for ways to live up to our mission: Proving there is a better way to serve our team, clients, and the community through the roofing industry. As we celebrate our 20th Anniversary (2006–2026), we are thrilled to announce a new green initiative launched by our Commercial Roofing Division that is keeping massive amounts of waste out of Michigan landfills.

In our latest video update, Bill Jr. sits down with Michael Farkas, our Commercial Division Superintendent, to discuss an incredible recycling milestone we achieved during a recent commercial roof replacement at IDC Industries in Clinton Township, MI.

The Challenge: 30,000 Square Feet of Styrofoam

During a standard core sample inspection for IDC Industries on 15 Mile Road, Michael and our commercial team discovered a unique challenge. Beneath the existing roof was nearly 30,000 square feet of 3-inch thick Styrofoam insulation.

While we typically see polyisocyanurate (poly-iso) insulation on our Metro Detroit commercial roofing projects, this massive volume of Styrofoam posed a serious environmental and logistical problem. If we followed standard disposal procedures, tearing off this roof would have filled 10 to 15 full-sized 30-yard dumpsters, sending a mountain of non-biodegradable debris straight to a local landfill.

Because one of our core values is “We Care,” Michael and the team decided that wasn’t good enough.

The Solution: A Michigan-Based Recycling Partnership

Living up to another core value—“We Do What It Takes”—Michael and the team actively searched for an eco-friendly alternative. They partnered with a specialized foam recycling facility based out of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Here is how the green initiative worked:

• Careful Extraction: The Kanga Roof team carefully removed the Styrofoam in full sections.
• Staging & Wrapping: The foam was stacked into 4-foot tall bundles, wrapped, and safely staged.
• Transport & Melt Down: The Kalamazoo recycling company sent two semi-trucks to pick up the materials at zero cost to us or our client.
• Repurposing: At their facility, the recyclers melt the foam back down into its chemical state, allowing it to be repurposed into brand-new products (from new insulation to takeout containers!).

By taking these extra steps, we successfully kept two semi-trucks worth of “forever chemicals” and foam out of Michigan landfills!

Installing a Top-Tier Elevate Roofing System

With the old, problematic Styrofoam safely recycled, our team was able to provide IDC Industries with exactly what we are known for: the longest-lasting roof possible. We installed a state-of-the-art Elevate Commercial Roofing System (formerly Firestone Building Products), ensuring superior weather protection, energy efficiency, and durability for decades to come.

A Commitment to Sustainable Commercial Roofing

This isn’t just a one-time success story. Moving forward, this recycling evaluation is officially part of our commercial roof inspection process. Whenever we pull a core sample on a commercial building in Metro Detroit, we will actively assess if the existing materials can be diverted from landfills and recycled.

Why Choose Four Seasons Kanga Roof for Your Commercial Building?

Whether you need a full replacement, a flat roof restoration, or a simple repair, we bring the same level of dedication to every project. We offer:

• The Apples to Apples Guarantee: We’ll deliver the best roof at the best price.
• Remarkable Service: A full-time, dedicated service team ready to solve any leak or maintenance issue.
• Straightforward Pricing: No guessing games—our repairs are priced using a transparent menu system.

If you are a commercial building owner or facility manager in Metro Detroit looking for a roofing partner who is eco-conscious and committed to doing the right thing, we would love to help.

Ready to partner with a roofer who cares? Visit us at www.kanga-roof.com or give us a call at (586) 566-0308 to book your commercial roof inspection today!

Have a Kanga-rific Day!

Sincerely, 

Bill Burkhardt, Jr. 

VP & Owner – Four Seasons Kanga Roof