How to Dispose of Roofing Shingles
Roofing tear-offs generate heavy, bulky waste that requires careful dumpster selection. This guide covers shingle weights per square, recommended dumpster sizes based on roof size, proper loading techniques, and recycling options for asphalt shingles.
The short answer
Roofing shingles go in a roll-off dumpster, but they are heavy (a typical square of asphalt shingles weighs 250 to 400 pounds), so size up and expect weight to be your limit, not volume. A 10 or 15-yard dumpster is right for most tear-offs. Asphalt shingles are recyclable and get ground into road pavement, and some recyclers charge less than a landfill. If your home was built before 1980, have the shingles tested for asbestos before removal.
Overview
Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material in the U.S. and one of the heaviest common debris types placed in dumpsters. A single roofing square (100 sq ft) of asphalt shingles weighs 250 to 400 lbs, meaning a typical 2,000 sq ft roof tear-off generates 5,000 to 8,000 lbs of material. Proper size selection is critical.
What Can and Cannot Go in a Dumpster
Accepted in a Dumpster
- Asphalt shingles (3-tab and architectural)
- Roofing felt and tar paper
- Underlayment and ice shield
- Metal and rubber flashing
- Ridge caps, hip caps, and starter strips
- Roof vents and vent pipes
- Plywood roof decking
- Cedar shakes and wood shingles
- Clay and concrete roof tiles
Very heavy. Factor into weight estimate.
- Gutters and downspouts
- Roofing nails and fasteners
- Drip edge and fascia board
Not Accepted / Special Handling Required
- Asbestos-containing shingles
Common in homes built before 1980. Requires certified abatement and disposal at an approved facility. Test before tear-off.
- Hot tar or liquid roofing products
Liquid asphalt is a hazardous material. Solidified tar on shingles is fine.
- Solvents and roofing adhesive chemicals
Classified as hazardous waste. Dispose of through HHW programs.
Best Dumpster Size for Roofing Shingles
Recommended container sizes based on typical roofing shingles project scope.
15 Yard
16' x 7.5' x 4.5' | 1.5 tons
Small roof up to 15 squares (~1,500 sq ft). Good for single-layer tear-off on small homes.
View Size Details20 Yard
22' x 7.5' x 4.5' | 2 tons
Medium roof up to 25-30 squares (~2,500-3,000 sq ft). The most common choice for residential re-roofing.
View Size Details30 Yard
22' x 7.5' x 6' | 3 tons
Large roof over 30 squares, multi-layer tear-off, or roof plus additional renovation debris.
View Size DetailsWeight Considerations
Average weight: 400 - 600 lbs per cubic yard (shingles and related materials)
Asphalt shingles are deceptively heavy. A single roofing square (100 sq ft) weighs 250 to 400 lbs depending on whether they are 3-tab or architectural style. Architectural (dimensional) shingles are heavier. Here is a quick reference: a 2,000 sq ft roof with one layer of shingles generates approximately 5,000 to 8,000 lbs of material. Two layers double that weight.
Weight Tips
- Count your roofing squares (roof area / 100) and multiply by 300 lbs for a rough weight estimate.
- Multi-layer tear-offs multiply the weight. Two layers of shingles on a 2,000 sq ft roof = 10,000 to 16,000 lbs.
- A 20-yard dumpster with a 4-6 ton limit handles most single-layer residential tear-offs up to 25-30 squares.
- For multi-layer tear-offs or large roofs, request a heavy-load dumpster or consider two containers.
- Plywood decking and underlayment add weight beyond just the shingles. Factor in replacement decking as well.
Disposal Tips for Roofing Shingles
Load shingles flat, not on their side
Lay shingle bundles and loose shingles flat on the dumpster floor. Shingles loaded on their side can shift during transport and create an uneven load.
Spread the load evenly
Do not pile all shingles in one area of the dumpster. Walk the load across the entire floor to distribute weight evenly for safe hauling.
Use a roofing dumpster (if available)
Some providers offer dumpsters specifically rated for roofing debris with increased weight limits. Ask about roofing-specific containers.
Do not overfill
Shingles must remain below the top edge of the dumpster for safe and legal transport. Overfilling delays pickup and may result in additional fees.
Position the dumpster close to the work area
Place the dumpster as close to the house as possible so your roofing crew can drop debris directly in. This saves hours of hauling with wheelbarrows.
Disposal Regulations
Many states now require or encourage asphalt shingle recycling. Recycled shingles are used in road paving, pothole repair, and new asphalt production.
Asbestos testing may be required before tear-off on homes built before 1980. Some states mandate testing for any permitted re-roofing project.
Roofing contractors typically need to obtain a building permit for re-roofing projects. The permit process may include debris disposal requirements.
Some municipalities restrict dumpster placement on streets during re-roofing. Check local rules for driveway-only requirements.
Environmental Considerations
Approximately 11 million tons of asphalt shingle waste is generated annually in the U.S. Recycling programs can divert this material from landfills and convert it into road paving material.
Eco-Friendly Disposal Tips
- Ask about shingle recycling options in your area. Recycled shingles are ground into pavement material.
- Some shingle recyclers offer lower disposal rates than standard landfills.
- Cedar shakes can be chipped for mulch or biomass energy rather than landfilled.
- Metal roofing materials (flashing, gutters) are highly recyclable as scrap metal.
- Choose a dumpster provider that partners with shingle recycling facilities when available.
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Which tools and prices help with roofing shingles?
- Shingle calculator: weight per square and tonnage
- Roofing dumpsters: construction box with included tons
- Weight estimator: add up debris weight by material
- Cubic yard calculator: measure your debris pile
- Dumpster prices: live all-in prices by size
- Order online: get your exact price by ZIP
- Dumpster sizes: 10 to 40 yards compared
Sources
- U.S. EPA: Volume-to-weight conversion factors: Reference weights per cubic yard for common waste materials.
- U.S. EPA: Construction and demolition debris: National C&D generation and recycling figures.
- U.S. EPA: Household hazardous waste: What must stay out of the dumpster and where it goes.
How these numbers are set: weights per cubic yard are planning ranges for loose debris, consistent with the EPA conversion factors above; included tons are Ultimate Dumpsters' standard allowances by size. Real loads vary with moisture and packing.
Straight Talk From Our Team
“The weight estimator is the one I wish every customer used first. People size by how big the pile looks, but a load of concrete or dirt or wet drywall hits the tonnage limit while the box still looks half empty. Run the weight before you pick the size and the overage surprise just goes away. That is the whole reason we built it.”
Michael V.
Head of Operations, Ultimate Dumpsters. Weigh it before you pick the size
Roofing Shingles Disposal FAQs
Common questions about disposing of roofing shingles in a dumpster.
For a single-layer tear-off on a standard residential roof (2,000-2,500 sq ft), a 20-yard dumpster is the most common choice. For smaller roofs under 1,500 sq ft, a 15-yard works. For large roofs, multi-layer tear-offs, or when combining roofing debris with other renovation waste, choose a 30-yard.
Asphalt shingles weigh 250 to 400 lbs per roofing square (100 sq ft of roof area). 3-tab shingles are on the lighter end, while architectural (dimensional) shingles are heavier. A typical 2,000 sq ft single-layer roof generates 5,000 to 8,000 lbs of shingle waste.
Yes. Clay and concrete roof tiles are accepted but are very heavy, similar to concrete at 2,000+ lbs per cubic yard. Use a 10 or 15-yard dumpster for tile roofing and plan for the weight carefully.
If your home was built before 1980, asbestos-containing shingles are possible. The only way to confirm is laboratory testing. Take a small sample to a certified testing lab, or hire an asbestos inspector. Never remove asbestos-containing materials yourself.
Yes. Asphalt shingles are recyclable and can be ground into pavement material for road construction. Shingle recycling is available in many areas, and some recyclers offer lower disposal rates than standard landfills. Ask our team about shingle recycling options in your area.
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