Where to Drop Off Old Shingles: Local Disposal Options, Recycling Centers, and Cost Tips

Getting rid of old shingles doesn’t have to be a headache. You can drop them off at specialized recycling centers, construction and demolition transfer stations, municipal waste facilities that accept roofing materials, or arrange pickup with contractors or dumpster services—choose the option that accepts asphalt shingles in your area and follows local regulations to avoid fines and environmental harm.Before you haul anything, check whether shingles contain asbestos (common in older roofs) and confirm the facility’s acceptance rules, fees, and preparation requirements like bagging or sorting. This article walks you through practical drop-off options, recycling benefits, and disposal guidelines so you can move from roof tear-off to proper disposal with confidence.

Where To Drop Off Old Shingles

Where to Drop Off Old Shingles is a common question for homeowners and contractors after a roofing project. You can often divert shingles from landfills by taking them to facilities that accept roofing tear-off material, renting a dumpster, or using specialty processors that prepare shingles for recycling. Many recycling centers and waste transfer stations are equipped to handle asphalt shingles, which can later be repurposed for road paving or other construction uses. Before you arrive, always check facility rules, weight limits, and whether they accept asphalt shingles with nails or mixed debris. Some locations require shingles to be separated from wood and metal, while others allow mixed loads. Choosing the right drop-off option not only saves money but also helps reduce environmental impact.

Local Recycling Centers

Search municipal or private recycling centers that accept asphalt roofing. Use resources like Earth911 or your city’s waste-management website to find nearby centers that list "roofing material" or "asphalt shingles" as accepted items.Call ahead to confirm acceptance, operating hours, any required appointment, and whether you must remove nails or separate plywood and other debris. Some centers charge a flat drop-off fee or per-ton tipping fee; others accept small homeowner loads for a lower rate.Expect to present ID or proof of residency in some municipalities. If a center offers shingle recycling, they typically crush and reclaim the asphalt for asphalt paving or roofing products, which reduces landfill disposal.

Construction and Demolition Landfills

Use construction and demolition (C&D) landfills when recycling isn’t available or your shingles are contaminated. C&D landfills commonly accept mixed tear-off waste, including shingles, under defined load rules.Confirm the facility’s maximum load weight, vehicle types allowed, and whether you need a commercial account or special paperwork. Ask about separate pricing for shingles; some C&D sites charge higher rates for asphalt roofing due to processing needs.Keep loads tidy and remove bulky contaminants like FRP panels or large metal fixtures to avoid refusal. Bring tools or plan to hire a hauler if you can’t safely lift and unload full bundles yourself.

Specialty Roofing Waste Facilities

Locate specialty facilities that process shingles into reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) or shingle-derived aggregate. These processors accept large contractor loads and sometimes smaller homeowner drops, depending on their intake policies.Check acceptance criteria: many require minimal contamination, nails either removed or tolerable, and separate stacking of different shingle types (fiberglass vs. organic). Prices can be lower than C&D landfill rates because processors sell recycled product to road-paving projects.Ask about pickup services if you have a full roof’s worth of material. Some roofing recyclers coordinate with contractors and will issue weight tickets or diversion documentation useful for green-building credits or local permit compliance.

Guidelines For Shingle Disposal

Know which shingle types most facilities accept, how to prepare and package them for drop-off, and the environmental benefits of recycling versus landfill disposal.

Accepted Shingle Types

Many recycling centres and commercial drop-off depots accept asphalt shingles that are clean and free of large contaminants. This includes torn-off asphalt shingles from residential and commercial roofs, but acceptance often requires that shingles contain no metal flashing, nails, wood, or excessive tar paper.

Some facilities also accept metal, wood, and plastic roofing materials for recycling or reuse; verify each site's accepted materials before transport. Municipal drop-off depots may restrict acceptance to commercial, institutional, or city-related accounts starting 2026, so check local rules if you’re a homeowner.

Accepted examples:

• Clean asphalt shingles (granules intact, minimal contamination)
• Metal roofing panels (separate from asphalt)
• Reusable wood shingles (compost or reuse programs)

Non-accepted examples:

• Shingles mixed with asbestos or suspect materials
• Large amounts of mixed construction debris
• Roofing materials left with attached structural timber

Preparation and Packaging Tips

Remove loose debris, bulk nails, and large pieces of flashing before loading shingles for transport. Use a nail magnet over the pile to pull embedded nails; this protects handlers and recycling equipment.

Bundle or palletize shingles where required—many facilities ask for 4x4-foot bundles or pallets to speed handling. Line the truck bed with a tarp to contain granules and tie down the load to prevent road loss. Label the load if required by the facility (e.g., “Asphalt Shingles — No Asbestos”).

Bring these documents and tools:

• Proof of property type or account (if facility restricts access)
• Safety gloves, eye protection, and a heavy-duty tarp
• A magnet and hammer/pry bar for removing metal pieces

Environmental Impact and Benefits

Recycling asphalt shingles reduces landfill volume and saves raw materials by allowing shingles to be processed into reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) or used as filler in hot-mix asphalt. When facilities accept recycled shingles, you cut the demand for new aggregate and binder, lowering embodied energy in paving projects.Avoiding landfill disposal also reduces local tipping fees and long-term waste costs for municipalities. However, recycling depends on local infrastructure; if your area lacks shingle recycling, proper separation and disposal with licensed waste haulers remain important to prevent contamination and ensure regulatory compliance.