Already counted
Nails and underlayment
IKO's per-square figures add 10 pounds for underlayment, nails and other debris, so they need no line of their own.2 Use a magnet sweep around the drop zone; nails end up on the ground as well as in the box.
Shingle disposal: size the dumpster by weight
Torn-off asphalt shingles are dense, so a roofing dumpster runs out of weight long before it runs out of room. EPA puts loose asphalt roofing at 731 pounds per cubic yard.1 Plan the box on the scale, keep the load to roofing, and check old roofs for asbestos before the tear-off starts.
- 731 lbA loose cubic yard
- Weight firstThen volume
- One streamRoofing only
Why it is its own stream
A roof comes off heavy, all at once
A tear-off is one dense material arriving over a day or two. IKO, a shingle maker, estimates about 200 pounds per square for 3-tab shingles, 240 for laminate and 300 for premium, counting underlayment, nails and other debris.2 That is why shingles get their own container and their own weight plan.
Same 20 yard box, three roofs
Laminate, one layer: space used vs weight used
- 15 squares1.8 tons, 4.9 cu yd
- 25 squares3 tons, 8.2 cu yd
- 35 squares4.2 tons, 11.5 cu yd
- Space, of 20 loose cu yd
- Weight, of 3 tons
- Over the limit
41% full at the weight limit
A 25 square laminate roof weighs about 3 tons but fills only about 8 loose cubic yards, so a 20 yard box reaches 3 tons with more than half its space empty. IKO's sizing chart uses 3 tons as the example limit for a 20 yard, and notes that your rental company may set different limits.2
Space comes from EPA's 731 pounds per loose cubic yard of asphalt roofing.1 Limits vary by hauler and market, so confirm the tons included in writing before the box arrives. Run your own roof through the roofing dumpster calculator.
Which container
A general dumpster, or a roofing-only box?
Asphalt shingles can go in a roll-off. The question is whether they share it.
- Usual fit
A roofing-only roll-off
One material, sized by weight, swapped when it reaches its tons. Tell the provider it is a reroof and how many layers are coming off.
- Ask first
A mixed debris box
A few bundles of shingles in a renovation box are common, but they use up its tons fast. Say so when you order so the tons included match.
- Keep out
Suspect roofing and liquids
Old roofing that might contain asbestos, until it is tested. Leftover roofing cement, primer and solvents in liquid form. See keep it out.
Our guide to what can go in a dumpster lists asphalt shingles as a yes, with one warning: they are heavy, so count the layers coming off.
How big
Tons and loose yards by roof size
One layer, using IKO's per-square weights and EPA's loose weight for roofing.21 A square is 100 square feet of roof surface.
| Roof size | 3-tab | Laminate | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 squares | 1 ton, 2.7 cu yd | 1.2 tons, 3.3 cu yd | 1.5 tons, 4.1 cu yd |
| 20 squares | 2 tons, 5.5 cu yd | 2.4 tons, 6.6 cu yd | 3 tons, 8.2 cu yd |
| 30 squares | 3 tons, 8.2 cu yd | 3.6 tons, 9.8 cu yd | 4.5 tons, 12.3 cu yd |
| 40 squares | 4 tons, 10.9 cu yd | 4.8 tons, 13.1 cu yd | 6 tons, 16.4 cu yd |
IKO says a second layer doubles the dumpster you need and suggests a separate weight calculation for it, since the bottom layer may be a different shingle.2 Wet debris weighs more. The roofing dumpster calculator adds layers and replaced decking and shows which size holds the job on space and on weight. The dumpster weight limits guide explains tons included and overages, and the dumpster size guide compares every size.
What comes off the roof
Nails, underlayment, flashing and decking
A tear-off is more than shingles. FHWA describes old tear-off shingles as likely to include nails, metal flashing and felt underlayment.3
Ask the receiving site
Flashing, drip edge and vents
Small amounts of metal usually ride with the roofing load. If a shingle recycler takes the load, ask what it wants pulled out first. A whole metal roof is a separate stream: see scrap metal dumpsters.
Add it
Replaced decking
Rotten plywood or OSB coming off adds weight and space. Count the sheets and add them in the roofing dumpster calculator, or see wood disposal for larger amounts.
Keep separate
New material and packaging
Shingle wrappers, pallets and cardboard from the new roof are light and bulky. Keep them out of a load headed to a shingle recycler, and ask whether the pallets can go back to the supplier.
Prep and loading
Six steps for a clean tear-off load
Count squares and layers
Lift a shingle at the edge to check for a second layer before you order. The weight plan depends on it.
Get the tons in writing
Compare your estimate with the tons included on the quote, not just the yards. Raising them before delivery is a normal request.
Place the box near the eave
Where the truck can reach and pull it back out. On a street or sidewalk, check dumpster permits.
Load roofing only
Trash, food and household junk turn a roofing load into a mixed one. Keep a separate can for crew trash.
Spread it, stay under the line
Load evenly and below the fill line the provider gives you. A driver can ask you to unload down to it.
Cover it, swap it, keep the ticket
Rain adds weight the scale counts. On a big roof, swap when the first box reaches its tons, and ask for a copy of the scale ticket.
Keep it out
What stays out of a shingle load
Most of these can turn a clean roofing load into a refused one. The disposal site has the final say, and state rules can be stricter.
- Roofing that may contain asbestosEPA lists roofing and siding shingles among products that may contain asbestos, and says you generally cannot tell by looking.4 Test old roofs before the tear-off.
- Liquid roofing cement, primer and solventsLandfills cannot take bulk liquids or containers holding liquid waste, apart from small household-size containers and household waste.5
- Tool batteriesEPA says lithium-ion batteries should not go in garbage or recycling bins, because a crushed battery can start a fire.6 Take them to a battery drop-off.
- Crew trash and foodKeep a separate can. A roofing load with trash in it is a mixed load at the gate.
Rules and recycling
Asbestos, recycling and the local rules
Federal rules set the floor. The landfill, the recycler and your city can add to them.
40 CFR 61, Subpart M
Asbestos in old roofing
The asbestos NESHAP treats asphalt roofing products with more than 1 percent asbestos as Category I nonfriable material. Before a covered demolition or renovation, the owner or operator must thoroughly inspect for asbestos, including nonfriable material. Residential buildings with four or fewer dwelling units fall outside the rule's definition of a facility.7 State and local rules can still apply, so ask your state agency.
FHWA
Shingles into pavement
Ground shingles can replace part of the asphalt binder and aggregate in asphalt pavement. FHWA's 2021 tech brief counts about 921 thousand tons used in asphalt mixtures in 2019, against an estimated 12 to 16 million tons of shingles landfilled each year, and reports that use has declined since 2014.8 It lists 28 state DOTs, counting DC and Puerto Rico, that allow it.
FHWA
What recyclers screen for
At the processing sites FHWA visited, operators inspected incoming shingles, kept out shingles containing asbestos and kept wood and nails to a minimum.8 Expect a shingle recycler to set its own list of what a load may contain.
Your area
Landfills, recyclers and permits vary
EPA's guidance on construction materials says understanding the costs and recycling options in your area is key.9 Shingle recycling exists only in some places. A box on a street usually needs a city permit; see dumpster permits.
How it works with Detritus
One request for the roofing box
Send one request. We source a roll-off from a local provider in the markets we serve, and the quote states the tons included before the box arrives. Availability varies by market. Shingle recycling exists only in some areas, so ask us where a local program exists.
- The address and where the box can sit
- Roof size in squares
- Shingle type and how many layers
- Decking sheets you expect to replace
- Whether the roof could contain asbestos and has been tested
- Tear-off dates, and whether you need a swap
Decide
If this, then that
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| A one-layer reroof | A roofing-only roll-off sized by weight. Check it in the roofing dumpster calculator |
| Two or more layers | Figure each layer, then ask for more tons in writing or plan a swap |
| An older roof you are not sure about | Have it tested for asbestos before the tear-off, and load nothing until you know |
| A local shingle recycler takes tear-off | Keep the load to shingles and whatever else the recycler allows, and ask us whether we can route it there |
| A metal roof coming off | Treat it as scrap metal in its own container. See scrap metal dumpsters |
| Several roofs a week | See roofing contractors for swaps and crew restrooms |
Common questions
Shingle disposal questions
How much do torn-off shingles weigh?
IKO estimates about 200 pounds per square for 3-tab shingles, 240 for laminate and 300 for premium, counting underlayment, nails and other debris. A 25 square laminate roof is about 3 tons.
What size dumpster do I need for shingles?
Size it by weight first. Shingles reach a typical weight limit long before the box is full, so a smaller box with the right tons included often beats a bigger one. Confirm the tons included with your hauler, since limits vary by hauler and market.
Can shingles go in a regular dumpster?
Yes, asphalt shingles can go in a roll-off. Tell the provider it is roofing and how many layers are coming off, because shingles use up the tons included quickly.
Are asphalt shingles recycled?
Some are. Ground shingles go into asphalt pavement where a processor and a market exist, but FHWA estimates most shingles are still landfilled. Ask where a local program exists before you plan on it.
Do old shingles contain asbestos?
They can. EPA lists roofing shingles among products that may contain asbestos, and you generally cannot tell by looking. Have an older roof tested before the tear-off.
Can nails and flashing go in with the shingles?
Usually, yes. Nails and underlayment are part of a normal tear-off load. If a shingle recycler is taking the load, ask what it wants removed first.
How do I get a quote?
Call sales at (888) 588-2607 or request a quote with the address, the squares, the layers and the dates.
Tear-off this week?
Send the squares, the layers and the dates. Local providers do the work; we hold the contract, own the problems, and send one bill.
Related guides
Sources
- U.S. EPA, Volume-to-Weight Conversion Factors (April 2016): composition and other asphalt roofing 731 lb; clean and painted or demolition gypsum board 467 lb; clean dimensional lumber, pallets and crates, painted or stained wood and treated wood 169 lb; clean engineered wood 268 lb; wood chips 473 lb green and 243 lb dry; leaves 250 to 500 lb; mixed yard waste 250 lb uncompacted; branches and stumps 127 lb; other ferrous and other non-ferrous metal 225 lb; major appliances 145 lb; HVAC ducting 47 lb per cubic yard; pallets 25 lb each. Checked November 4, 2026. epa.gov
- IKO, Proper Dumpster Size for Roofing and Asphalt Shingle Disposal: about 200 lb per square for 3-tab, 240 for laminate and 300 for premium shingles, each including 10 lb for underlayment, nails and other debris; a second layer doubles the dumpster needed and should be calculated separately; sizing chart weight limits of less than 2 tons (10 yard), 2 tons (15), 3 tons (20) and 4 tons (25), which a local rental company may set differently. Checked November 4, 2026. iko.com
- Federal Highway Administration, User Guidelines for Waste and Byproduct Materials in Pavement Construction (FHWA-RD-97-148), Roofing Shingle Scrap: tear-off shingles are likely to include foreign materials such as nails, metal flashing and felt underlayment, as well as asbestos fibers. Checked November 4, 2026. fhwa.dot.gov
- U.S. EPA, Learn About Asbestos: products that may contain asbestos include roofing and siding shingles, and textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings. Checked November 4, 2026. epa.gov
- 40 CFR 258.28, liquids restrictions for municipal solid waste landfills: no bulk or noncontainerized liquid waste unless it is household waste other than septic waste, and no containers holding liquid waste unless they are small containers similar in size to household waste, designed to hold liquids for use other than storage, or household waste. Checked November 4, 2026. ecfr.gov
- U.S. EPA, Used Lithium-Ion Batteries: lithium-ion batteries should not go in household garbage or recycling bins; a damaged or crushed battery can create a fire hazard; take them to separate recycling or household hazardous waste collection points. Checked November 4, 2026. epa.gov
- 40 CFR 61.141 and 61.145, National Emission Standard for Asbestos: Category I nonfriable ACM includes asphalt roofing products containing more than 1 percent asbestos; a facility excludes residential buildings having four or fewer dwelling units; before a demolition or renovation the owner or operator must thoroughly inspect for asbestos, including Category I and Category II nonfriable ACM. Checked November 4, 2026. ecfr.gov
- Federal Highway Administration, Tech Brief: Practices and Lessons Learned When Using Reclaimed Asphalt Shingles in Asphalt Mixtures (FHWA-HIF-22-001, 2021): Table 1, shingles generated 13.2 to 17 million tons and landfilled 12 to 16 million tons a year, 921 thousand tons used in asphalt mixtures in 2019, 28 DOTs allowing use (including DC and Puerto Rico); use declining since a 2014 peak; processing sites eliminating shingles containing asbestos and minimizing wood and nails. Checked November 4, 2026. fhwa.dot.gov
- U.S. EPA, Sustainable Management of Construction and Demolition Materials: wood can be recycled into engineered wood products, mulch, compost and other products, and scrap wood can be chipped on site; de-papered and crushed gypsum can be used in moderate quantities as a soil amendment; metals including steel, copper and brass are valuable commodities to recycle; understanding costs and recycling options in your area is key. Checked November 4, 2026. epa.gov