Tips To Properly Dispose of Shingles

Roofing materials last for decades, but they will eventually get damaged beyond repair, requiring them to be tossed and replaced with new ones. Most shingles are made from asphalt, which is an abundant material in local landfills. Rather than sending more shingles to your local landfill, you can choose any one of these alternative disposal solutions.

Donating
Find organizations that accept reusable shingles and donate them to low-income families that could benefit from them. Search for these organizations on websites where people trade or donate construction materials, as there are likely many people looking for cheap or free roofing waste for their own repairs or paving projects.
Recycling
Shingles take four centuries to break down in a landfill. This is a massive waste considering that old and damaged pieces can be easily reused. Some composites in asphalt, such as hot-mix and pavement asphalt can be used to improve cement quality. Shingles can also be used to create other beneficial materials for public paving projects, such as roadways, reducing the need for oil and other new resources.

Look for centres around you that are dedicated to recycling shingles. Call before your next project to inquire about any requirements or arrangements that need to be made. Some centres only accept pre-ground shingles, while others clean and grind the materials in-house. Such centres have all the equipment to ensure safe recycling, such as strong magnets to remove nails. Keep in mind that some centres require you to pay them to accept the shingles for recycling, others consider them donations, while others pay you for recyclable shingles.
Repurposing
Some companies and individuals buy old shingles to repurpose them for different things, such as:
- Stair grips—making stair grips from old roofing shingles is a fairly simple process;
- Driveway mats—some people use shingles to soak up oil and other auto fluids to avoid stains on the driveway or garage floor;
- Mulch—old shingles can be spread around plants to cover the soil. This will stop weeds from growing and makes it harder for pests to multiple, though the shingles make it harder to water your plants;
- Sidewalk anti-slip—old repurposed roof shingles are a great alternative to costly road salt. Users simply lay them on their walkways and sidewalks to add strength, stability, and grip to their step.

Unfortunately, not all old shingles can be donated, recycled, or repurposed. For instance, if the shingles don’t meet the guidelines for multiple recycling centres, they may need to be thrown away. In such cases, roofers need only to rent a dumpster and have the waste disposal company dispose of the shingles for a shingle disposal fee.