How roofers cut tear-off disposal costs
A single-layer tear-off weighs about 240-292 lb per square, so landfill fees run roughly $13-$16 a square at Howard County's $106/ton C&D rate. Roofers cut costs by matching the trailer to the roof (about 18 squares per 7x14 load), dumping at the right county site, keeping loads clean and letting the crew stay on the roof.
Key takeaways
- One square of single-layer tear-off is about 0.4 yd3 and roughly 240-292 lb.
- A 7x14 dump holds about 18 squares; a 6x12 about 11.
- At $106/ton (Howard), disposal is about $13-$16 per square before the 2.45% card fee.
- Baltimore County's Eastern Sanitary caps shingles at 2 yd3, so plan larger roofs elsewhere.
- Return It Loaded: we dump it for the scale price plus $49 ($51.94 with tax).
How much does a square of tear-off weigh?
Plan on about 240–292 lb per square for one layer of asphalt shingles, including nails and underlayment.
IKO, a shingle manufacturer, estimates about 200 lb per square for 3-tab and about 240 lb for laminates once you add roughly 10 lb for underlayment, nails and debris. Premium designer shingles run heavier, around 300 lb. The EPA's density for asphalt shingles is 731 lb per cubic yard, and one square of single-layer tear-off fills about 0.4 cubic yards, or about 292 lb.
A second layer doubles the weight and volume, so count every layer when you estimate.
Why it matters: landfills charge by the ton, so your disposal bill tracks the weight of the roof, not the size of the container. Count layers in the attic or at a rake edge before you bid. A 30-square roof with two layers is about 60 squares of debris, which doubles both the loads and the scale charge.
What does disposal cost per square in Central Maryland?
At current county rates, a square of tear-off costs about $10–$20 to dump, depending on the site.
| Site | Rate | Per square (240–292 lb) | 30-square roof (3.6–4.38 tons) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard, Alpha Ridge | $106/ton + 2.45% card fee | $12.72–$15.48 + fee | $381.60–$464.28 + fee |
| Anne Arundel, Millersville | $100/ton (rental or double-axle) | $12.00–$14.60 | $360.00–$438.00 |
| Carroll, Northern Landfill | $85/ton C&D | $10.20–$12.41 | $306.00–$372.30 |
| Baltimore Recycling Center (private) | $93/ton, 1-ton min, any county | $11.16–$13.58 | $334.80–$407.34 |
| Baltimore City, Quarantine Rd | $135/ton | $16.20–$19.71 | $486.00–$591.30 |
Baltimore County's Eastern Sanitary takes shingles only up to 2 cubic yards, at $200/ton, so a full roof needs another site. Alpha Ridge treats trailer and rental loads as commercial: you need a $40/yr permit, it accepts Howard County waste only, and rental vehicles may need a special-exception form. Every county weighs and charges rented or tandem-axle trailer loads, and none opens on Sunday.
Landfill fees, hours and rules are set by each county or site and can change without notice. We don't control them; call the site before you go.
The county pages under where to dump list each site's address and phone number.
Roof tear-off this week?
About 18 squares per 7x14 load, weekly on account, and Roof Day bundles for crews.
See roofer optionsIs a dump trailer or a dumpster cheaper for a tear-off?
For a one- or two-day roof, a dump trailer usually costs less. For a slow job, or one that needs 3 or more loads, a dumpster often wins.
Example: a 30-square, single-layer roof is about 12 cubic yards, or 2 loads in a 7x14. One trailer for one day is $165 ($174.90 with tax), plus disposal at the scale. Columbia 15-yard dumpster quotes run $350–$685. In our experience, a one-day trailer job often comes in $90–$200 under a dumpster.
The trailer also comes off the driveway the same day. In Howard County, commercial vehicles can sit on residential streets for only 6 hours (Code § 21.232), and HOA or village covenants can be stricter. Price your own job with the dumpster vs dump trailer calculator.
How do I size the trailer to the roof?
Divide the squares (per layer) by 18 for a 7x14, or by 11 for a 6x12, and round up.
| Roof (single layer) | Volume | 7x14 loads (7.17 yd³) | 6x12 loads (4.44 yd³) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 squares | 6 yd³ | 1 | 2 |
| 25 squares | 10 yd³ | 2 | 3 |
| 35 squares | 14 yd³ | 2 | 4 |
| 35 squares, 2 layers | 28 yd³ | 4 | 7 |
Weight rarely limits a 7x14 on shingles: 18 squares at 240–292 lb is about 4,300–5,300 lb, well under its 9,820 lb payload. Volume fills first. Our published guide on dump trailer loads for a roof covers steep and multi-layer roofs in detail.
Where else does the money leak on a tear-off?
The biggest leaks are trips, sorting and crew time, not the per-ton rate.
- Half-loads. Every landfill run takes a truck and a driver off the job. Size the trailer so each run is a full one.
- Mixed loads. Keep wood, metal flashing and trash out of the shingle pile if you plan to recycle. Our guide on shingle recycling in Maryland covers where clean loads go.
- Wrong county. Alpha Ridge takes Howard County waste only. A job in Anne Arundel goes to Millersville.
- Flat tires. Tear-off nails are the top cause of trailer downtime. See our guide to preventing nail punctures.
- Saturday-only dumping. No county opens Sunday, so a Saturday tear-off can leave a full trailer sitting until Monday.
Track disposal per square on every job. After a few roofs you'll know your real number by county and shingle type, and you can bid it as a line item instead of guessing.
Can someone else dump the trailer for me?
Yes. With Return It Loaded, you bring the trailer back full and we dump it for the county scale price plus $49 ($51.94 with tax).
Your driver stays on the roof instead of in the scale line. You get the scale ticket, and the charge goes on the card on file. Roofing contractors can set up an account on our roofer page. Accounts get the $549 weekly 7x14 rate ($581.94 with tax) and 10% off 3 or more units.
Landfill fees, hours and rules are set by each county or site and can change without notice. We don't control them; call the site before you go.
Questions
Do landfills charge more for shingles?
Some do. Baltimore County's Eastern Sanitary charges $200/ton for shingles and caps them at 2 cubic yards. Anne Arundel and Howard charge their rental-trailer or C&D rates. Call the site to confirm.
Should I tarp a shingle load?
Yes. Tarp every load. Loose debris on the road is a ticket waiting to happen, and wind lifts shingle pieces easily at highway speed.
Can I leave a loaded trailer overnight at the job?
Check the street and HOA rules first. Howard County limits commercial vehicles on residential streets to 6 hours. A driveway is usually the safer spot.