Northstar to lease 54,000-square-foot Baltimore facility for shingle recycling

Northstar Clean Technologies announced on January 13 that it had entered a non-binding agreement to secure a lease in Baltimore for its first U.S. commercial facility, a move that would create a new local hub for recycling asphalt shingles into roofing products. The proposed site is an existing roughly 54,000-square-foot building with additional outdoor storage acreage, and the lease contemplates a 10-year initial term with renewal options.

The company outlined a timetable that would see the lease commence July 1, 2026, with rent payments beginning October 1, 2026. Northstar identified Baltimore as its top U.S. expansion choice, citing strategic advantages including proximity to shingle and asphalt supply and favorable operating economics for its shingle-recycling-to-roofing-products business. The agreement remains non-binding until final lease documents and any required permits are completed.

For Baltimore residents and local roofers, the project could matter in several ways. A local recycling facility shortens haul distances for contractors removing old shingles from rowhouse and residential roofs, which can reduce disposal costs and truck traffic. Northstar said the site’s outdoor storage acreage and building size meet operational needs, suggesting the facility could handle a steady throughput of material from Baltimore and the wider region. The company also described expected local employment opportunities, which could provide new industrial jobs in city neighborhoods that host light manufacturing and recycling operations.

Economically, the plant reflects two intersecting trends: growing corporate interest in circular-economy solutions for construction waste, and regional supply-chain reshuffling that favors shorter logistics legs. For a city with heavy seasonal roofing activity, an onshore processing option may improve material recovery rates and keep value in the regional economy rather than sending shingles to distant landfills. Lower transport and disposal costs can also alter pricing dynamics for local contractors and municipal waste programs.

Several steps remain before operations begin. The non-binding agreement must convert into a signed lease, and the site will require any necessary local permits, inspections, and utility hookups to support industrial processing. Timing set by the company points to mid-2026 for lease commencement, so the next months will be decisive for final approvals, workforce hiring and equipment installation.

If the deal closes, Baltimore would host Northstar’s first commercial U.S. plant, potentially establishing a regional recycling hub that could change how the city and its contractors handle roofing waste. Residents should watch for municipal permitting notices and local hiring announcements as the project moves from a non-binding agreement toward an operational facility.