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How to Recycle Asphalt Shingles
Check local acceptanceUsually a tip fee, sometimes lower than mixed C&D. RAS value accrues mainly to the paving plant, not the homeowner.Last reviewed July 31, 2026
Quick answer
Tear-off asphalt shingles can become recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) for road mix at specialty plants, but most still landfills. Keep nails, wood, and trash out. Not curbside, and not the same as pavement RAP. Before you go, confirm that a local recycling center accepts the material in its current condition.
- Recycling route
- Check locally
- Typical value
- Usually a tip fee, sometimes lower than mixed C&D. RAS value accrues mainly to the paving plant, not the homeowner.
- Donate / take-back
- Available
Asphalt roofing shingles from tear-offs and new-construction scrap. EPA estimated about 15.1 million tons in 2018, with landfill as the primary destination. Specialty processors grind acceptable loads into RAS for hot-mix asphalt where plants and specs allow.
Where to Recycle
- Specialty asphalt-shingle (RAS) recycling plants
- Some hot-mix asphalt producers with RAS programs
- C&D yards that transfer to RAS processors
- Roofing contractors with established recycler accounts
How to Prepare
- 1Sort asphalt shingles from wood, felt underlayment trash, and metal flashing.
- 2Keep loads as free of dirt and bagged trash as you can.
- 3Expect magnets at the plant to pull nails; still rake out obvious debris.
- 4Separate manufacturing scrap (usually cleaner) from dirty tear-offs when the buyer asks.
- 5Ask whether the plant takes organic-mat, fiberglass, or both.
- 6Do not mix shingles into a concrete or RAP pavement pile unless the plant runs RAS.
Special Instructions
Shingle recycling (RAS) is not the same as pavement RAP. You need a RAS-capable asphalt plant or specialty grinder. Nails and wood debris are the usual rejection reasons. Older roofs may include asbestos mastics or flashings. Test suspect materials before grinding. Do not assume every asphalt plant takes tear-off shingles.
Environmental Impact
EPA 2018: about 15.1 million tons generated; about 13.0 million tons landfilled and about 2.1 million tons next use (mostly manufactured products). CDRA reports more than 16 million tons recycled into roads since 2009, still only a fraction of annual generation. RAS is a thin stream compared with pavement RAP success.
Sustainable Alternatives
- Landfill or C&D disposal when no RAS plant is within haul distance
- Manufacturer scrap return programs where offered
Official guidance and resources
Accepted items and drop-off rules can vary by location. Check the destination before you go.
What’s Accepted
Accepted
- Asphalt tear-off shingles (where the plant accepts post-consumer RAS)
- New construction and manufacturing shingle scrap
- Loads with nails that magnets can remove
Not Accepted
- Shingles mixed with wood, trash, or heavy dirt
- Asbestos-containing roofing materials
- Tile, slate, or wood shake roofing in an asphalt-shingle load
- Rubber membranes and non-asphalt roofing systems
- Curbside recycling carts
Donation & Take‑Back Options
Estimated value: Usually a tip fee, sometimes lower than mixed C&D. RAS value accrues mainly to the paving plant, not the homeowner.
Manufacturer/Retail Take‑Back
Hazardous Components
- Possible asbestos in older mastics and flashings
- Nails and sharp debris
- Dust during grinding
FAQs
Are asphalt shingles the same as road asphalt recycling?
No. Pavement RAP is milled road surface. Shingles are RAS, a different feedstock with more granules, mat, and nails. Some asphalt plants take both; many take only RAP.
Why do so many shingle loads still go to landfill?
RAS plants are regional, specs for tear-off material are strict, and contamination (wood, trash, dirt) is common. Manufacturing scrap recycles more easily than dirty tear-offs. EPA shows landfill as the primary national destination.
Do I need to remove every nail?
Pull what you can. Plants use magnets, but wood, plastic, and trash still cause rejections. A cleaner dumpster saves a rejected load fee.
Can I recycle architectural (laminate) shingles?
Many RAS plants accept common fiberglass asphalt shingles, including laminates, if they are asphalt-based and reasonably clean. Confirm before staging a whole roof.
What about asbestos?
Some older roofing mastics and flashings contained asbestos. If the roof is decades old and materials are unknown, test before grinding or demo.
Related recycling guides
Recycle asphalt shingles
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