How to Properly Dispose of Asphalt Roof Shingles

Asphalt roof shingles create millions of tons of waste every year. There are ways to properly dispose of them through recycling or donation, rather than heading straight for the nearest dump.

Recycle

The movement to recycle asphalt shingles has been growing over the years. There are composites in asphalt that are beneficial in creating other materials, the biggest being pavement and hot-mix asphalt, which improves cement quality.

There are many centers dedicated to the recycling of asphalt shingles. Call ahead to see what the requirements are–some places only allow pre-ground shingles, and others will do the cleaning and grinding at the center. Pricing will vary as well; sometimes there’s a charge to donate, sometimes centers will actually pay you and other times donations are free.

Donate

Organizations that help low-income families with housing needs may be glad to take your shingles if they are re-usable. You can also post on websites where people buy, trade or give away items related to construction, as another person may be able to use your old shingles for repairs.

Rent a Dumpster

If your asphalt shingles contain asbestos or are otherwise unsalvageable, you can dispose of them at the dump. If you have a large amount of waste, it’s easiest to rent a dumpster that you can just drive to the dump and tip. There’s usually a fee for shingle disposal, so find out before you go.