If you’ve ever pulled old shingles off a roof, stripped weathered siding from a backyard shed, or replaced rotted trim on a porch, you know those thick, cedar or pine wood layers don’t just crumble into dust. For years, most of them ended up in landfills—taking up space, leaching residual chemicals if they were pressure-treated, and wasting a natural resource that deserves a second life. As a wood shingles supplier, I field this question at least a dozen times a week: how do you actually recycle wood shingles, anyway? It’s not as simple as tossing a cardboard box into a bin, and it’s easy to make mistakes that turn a recyclable material into another burden on waste systems. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way, too—early on in my supply business, I sold a batch of hand-split cedar shingles to a contractor who thought all shingles were the same, and he tried to recycle pressure-treated shake shingles with untreated cedar, which contaminated a whole batch of feedstock for a small woodworking shop. That mistake stuck with me, so today I’m breaking down the science, the best practices, and the common pitfalls I’ve seen over 12 years in this industry. Wood Shingles
First, let’s start with the basics: not all wood shingles are equal, and that’s the single biggest factor in whether they can be recycled safely. Wood shingles fall into two broad categories that determine their entire recycling journey: pressure-treated shingles and untreated (or naturally durable) shingles. Pressure-treated shingles are infused with chemicals—most commonly copper azole, ACQ (alkaline copper quaternary), or older formulas like creosote—to resist rot, insects, and moisture. These chemicals are toxic, designed to last for decades, and they can’t be processed the same way as untreated wood. If you toss a pressure-treated shingle into a curbside recycling bin meant for paper or yard waste, it can contaminate an entire load of recyclables, forcing facilities to send the whole batch to the landfill. That’s why so many curbside programs don’t accept wood shingles at all—they lack the specialized equipment to handle treated wood without endangering workers or compromising end products.
Untreated wood shingles, on the other hand, are made from species like western red cedar, white pine, or cypress, which have natural oils that make them resistant to decay. (This is the kind of shingle I specialize in supplying—sustainably harvested, FSC-certified, and free of chemical treatments.) These shingles are the true recyclable workhorses, but even they have rules. First, you have to make sure they don’t have any metal fasteners, debris, or other contaminants. A rusted nail stuck in a shingle might seem trivial, but when wood is chipped into small pieces for processing, that metal can damage machinery, or end up in final products like mulch, which then gets spread in gardens where it could contaminate soil. That’s why the first step in recycling any wood shingle, no matter the type, is sorting and prepping before it ever reaches a processing facility.
Let’s walk through the step-by-step process for recycling untreated, naturally durable wood shingles first, since that’s the most common question I get. If you’re a homeowner replacing your own roof, or a contractor tearing down a small shed, start by setting aside a separate bin for these shingles—don’t mix them with pressure-treated wood, lumber scraps, or regular yard waste. Once you’ve removed all nails, screws, and even plastic roof underlayment that might be stuck to the back of the shingles, the next step is to sort them by size and condition. Large, intact shingles that are still in good shape? Those can be reused, not just recycled. I supply new shingles, but we also work with a network of small reclaimed lumber shops that refurbish old, well-maintained cedar shingles—sometimes a little sanding and a fresh coat of natural oil is all it takes to make them look and work like new for a new roof or accent wall. Reusing shingles is the most sustainable option by far, because it skips the entire energy cost of harvesting and processing new wood. I’ve had customers save entire batches of old cedar shingles from a 50-year-old barn, refurbish them, and use them on a guest cabin—stories like that are why I started this business in the first place.
For shingles that are too worn or damaged to reuse, the next step is processing, and this is where working with a specialized wood recycler makes all the difference. Not all recycling centers handle wood, so don’t just drop your shingles off at the nearest facility that takes household waste. Look for a company that focuses on construction and demolition (C&D) wood recycling—these facilities have chippers, grinders, and screening equipment designed to turn large wood scraps into consistent, usable material. The first product most people think of is wood mulch, which is used for landscaping, playground surfaces, and garden beds. But high-quality processed shingles can also be turned into wood-pellet fuel for heating or electricity, or even into fiberboard for furniture and cabinetry. One thing I always advise customers against, though, is trying to process shingles at home. Renting a wood chipper for a single load of shingles is more expensive than dropping them off at a recycler, and it’s dangerous—chippers can cause serious injury if you don’t know how to operate them properly. I’ve seen a few customers try this and end up damaging their chipper on hidden nails, which turns a small recycling project into a costly headache.
Now, what about pressure-treated wood shingles? This is the area where most people get confused, and where improper disposal does the most harm. Pressure-treated shingles are almost never accepted for standard recycling, because their chemical makeup makes them unsafe for most downstream products. The copper and other preservatives in these shingles can kill the beneficial fungi and bacteria that compost relies on, so they can’t go into compost piles. They also can’t be turned into food-grade packaging or garden mulch, because the chemicals can leach into soil and water over time. That said, pressure-treated shingles aren’t a total lost cause. Many regions have specialized C&D wood facilities that are equipped to handle treated wood separately, and in some areas, there are facilities that process it into construction material like landscape timbers or structural beams that don’t come into contact with food or water. The key here is to never mix pressure-treated shingles with untreated ones—even a small batch of treated shingles can contaminate a whole load of recyclable untreated wood, so sort them immediately when you’re removing them. If you’re not sure whether your shingles are treated, check the label: most pressure-treated wood is marked with a stamp that says “ACQ,” “MCA,” or “pressure-treated for ground contact.” If you can’t find a stamp, and the shingles are a uniform, light brown color (natural cedar is more of a reddish-brown with variations), that’s a good sign they’re untreated, but when in doubt, check with your local waste authority to confirm their rules.
Over the years, I’ve also learned about some of the more innovative recycling methods for wood shingles, especially for customers looking for more circular solutions. Some cities are now using wood shingle waste as a fuel source in waste-to-energy plants, but it’s critical that this is only done for clean, untreated wood—burning pressure-treated shingles releases toxic chemicals into the air, which is harmful for workers and the surrounding community. I also work with a small group of woodworkers who turn old, undamaged wood shingles into smaller crafts: picture frames, coasters, wall art, even wine rack inserts. It’s a great way to keep shingles out of landfills and give them a new, decorative life. I supply these makers with reclaimed shingles at a discounted rate, because it aligns with my business’s core value: using wood resources responsibly, from the harvest to the end of the product’s life.
I should also address a common myth I hear all the time: “All wood shingles are recyclable, right?” No, and that’s an important distinction. Shingles that have been painted, stained, or sealed with acrylic or oil-based finishes add another layer of complexity. Most standard paint on wood shingles is water-based these days, which can be processed, but oil-based paints and certain epoxy sealants can make the wood unfit for recycling because they leave a sticky residue that ruins the fiber. If your shingles are painted, check with your local recycler to see if they accept painted wood, or again, look for a woodworker who can repurpose the shingles as decorative pieces—paint actually adds character to small crafts, so it might even be a selling point.
As a wood shingles supplier, part of my job isn’t just to sell high-quality, sustainable shingles—it’s to help customers understand how to care for them and how to handle them at the end of their life. That’s why I’ve built a network of partners across the country that accept old wood shingles for recycling or repurposing, so my customers don’t have to hunt for a facility on their own. I also offer free resources on my website (and in every order we ship) with guidelines for sorting, prep, and recycling, because I know how frustrating it can be to navigate waste rules. Last year, I worked with a roofing contractor who was replacing 200 old cedar shingles on a community center, and he was planning to send them all to the landfill. We connected him with a local wood mill that turned the intact shingles into custom shelves for the center’s library, and the contractor ended up saving almost $1,200 in landfill fees. That’s the kind of win that makes this work worth it.
Of course, there are still gaps in wood shingle recycling systems, and as an industry, we’re working to fix that. For years, wood shingles were overlooked in favor of other construction materials, but as more and more homeowners and businesses prioritize sustainability, more facilities are investing in wood processing equipment. Some regions even offer curbside wood waste pickup for construction projects, so if you’re doing a major roof replacement, that’s a great option to look into. The key takeaway here is that recycling wood shingles isn’t complicated—it’s just about planning ahead, sorting correctly, and using the right resources.
If you’re a homeowner getting ready for a roof replacement, a contractor with a large tear-down project, or simply someone with a pile of old shingles from a shed remodel, I’m here to help. Whether you have questions about sorting, need a connection to a local recycler, or even are looking to source reclaimed shingles for a new project, our team can walk you through every step. We’re proud to supply shingles that are built to last, and just as important, we’re proud to support solutions that keep those shingles out of landfills when their time is done. When you work with us, you’re not just getting a roof material—you’re joining a community that values responsible wood use from start to finish.
If you’d like to discuss recycling options for your wood shingle project, or want to learn more about our sustainable shingle products, our team is here to help.
Carbonized Wood References:
- American Wood Council. (2022). Recycling and Reuse of Wood Construction and Demolition Waste. Wood Products Council.
- Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Sustainable Management of Residual Wood and Wood Waste. U.S. EPA.
- National Wood Roofing Association. (2023). Best Practices for Reusing and Recycling Wood Shingles and Shakes. NWRA.
- Wood Recyclers Association. (2022). Technical Guidelines for Processing Untreated and Pressure-Treated Wood Waste. WRA.
Dongguan Mumu WoodWork Co., Ltd.
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