How to Dispose of Asphalt Shingles and Reduce Waste

Asphalt shingles are a major contributor to waste, with over 10 million tons of them being discarded each year in the United States alone.

To put that into perspective, that's enough shingles to cover over 1,000 football fields.

In many areas, asphalt shingles are not accepted in regular trash collection, so you'll need to explore alternative disposal options.

Check with your local waste management agency to see what specific guidelines apply to your area.

Before you start tearing off your asphalt shingle roof, plan your start date and work flow to ensure a smooth process.

Check the weather to ensure you will have a few dry days to do the work, as a roof cannot be installed in active rainy weather. Water on a roof is slippery and can lead to a dangerous fall.

Consult with your city or county engineering department to determine if you need a permit for asphalt shingle removal, and have it in place with all fees paid before you begin work.

Your homeowners' association may also have restrictions on this type of work, so be sure to check with them before starting.

If you're not doing the re-roofing yourself, consult with your roofing contractor to ensure they're lined up and ready to get to work as soon as your roof is completely pulled off and the shingles are disposed of.

Double check with any friends or family who will be helping you to ensure they're available and ready to assist.

Removing asphalt shingles can be a DIY project, but it's essential to work safely and efficiently. Consider hiring professionals if you're not comfortable with the process.

Working on a sloped roof can lead to a fall, causing serious injury or death. Always have the right tools and get help when working on your roof.

To dispose of roof shingles, work in small batches to maintain your balance as you walk to the roof edge above the dumpster. Clear a roof section, move the roof jacks to another part of the roof, and begin work on that section.

You can also place a tarp under the area you're working on to collect shingle waste. Toss the old shingles onto the tarp and then gather it up for transport and disposal into your dumpster container.

Renting a dumpster is a convenient way to dispose of old shingles. Contractors and homeowners can rent dumpsters to dispose of asphalt shingles without spending time searching for a recycler or donation center.

There are over a dozen types of roofing shingles, but asphalt shingles are used in 80% of home and commercial roofing projects due to their extreme weather protection and relative cost.

You can recycle your used asphalt shingles instead of disposing of them in a dumpster. With 12 million tons of asphalt shingles ending up in U.S. landfills each year, shingle recycling centers are becoming increasingly important.

Recycled shingles can be used in asphalt paving projects such as roads and parking lots. A National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) Asphalt Pavement Industry Survey published in 2020 shows that $59 million are saved each year in road construction costs over the use of virgin road materials.

To find asphalt shingle recycling facilities near you, search the recycling listing at Shingle Recycling or search for a recycler near you at Earth911.

You can also place a tarp under the area you are working on to collect the shingle waste. Toss the old shingles onto the tarp and then gather it up for transport and disposal into your dumpster container.

The easiest kinds of shingles to recycle include asphalt, metal, wood, and plastic. However, contractors working on residential homes or commercial buildings may not have access to the recycling resources needed to divert shingles from landfills, especially in remote areas.

Shingle recycling offers many benefits, both environmentally and economically. It reduces landfill space, protects public health, encourages resource recovery, and prevents pollution and emissions.

Here are some of the benefits of shingle recycling:

The shingle recycling process begins with the proper removal of shingles from roofs. These discarded shingles are transported to a recycling center or sent to a materials recovery facility (MRF).

You have three main options for disposing of asphalt shingles: landfilling, recycling, and using a construction waste management service.

Landfilling is a straightforward option, but it's not the most environmentally friendly choice. It's estimated that over 20 million tons of asphalt shingles end up in landfills each year.

Recycling is a more sustainable option, as it reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and conserves natural resources. Asphalt shingles can be recycled into new products like aggregate base material.

Construction waste management services can also be used to dispose of asphalt shingles, often at a lower cost than landfilling. These services will transport and dispose of the shingles in an environmentally responsible manner.