Asphalt Shingle Recycling in Wisconsin: What Happens to Your Old Roof

In Wisconsin, your roof doesn’t have to go to waste.

It can go to work.

Every year, thousands of tons of asphalt shingles are recycled into the roads we drive on, cutting carbon, saving money, and keeping waste out of landfills. And if you're in Dane County, you’re already part of one of the most effective roofing recycling programs in the country.

At Sun Vault Roofing, we think you should feel proud when your old roof becomes part of something bigger: like roads, highways, and community infrastructure. In Dane County, your shingles enter a well-established recycling system that turns waste into new roads.

Are Asphalt Shingles Sustainable? What Wisconsin Homeowners Should Know

Homeowners who prioritize sustainability often ask whether asphalt shingles are recyclable. Or if metal roofs are the only sustainable option.

Metal is infinitely recyclable, it's true. But here’s what most people don’t realize:

So is asphalt.

And asphalt shingles are everywhere! They're the most common roofing material in America, and programs like the one in Dane County are proving that mass-market materials can still be part of a climate-conscious solution.

At Sun Vault Roofing, sustainability is built into how we operate. Learn more about who we are and what we stand for.

How Does Asphalt Shingle Recycling Work in Southern Wisconsin?

When your old roof comes off, it doesn’t go to waste. It enters a regional recycling chain that transforms it into new infrastructure.

Here’s how it works in Wisconsin:

1. Remove shingles: Old shingles are stripped from the roof during tear-off.

2. Transport to a drop site: We haul the debris to an approved recycling site like the Dane County landfill.

3. Grind into asphalt mix: Kafka Granite picks up the material, then grinds it into a fine dust at their facility in Mosinee, WI.

4. Pave it forward: Contractors like Northeast Asphalt and American Asphalt of Wisconsin incorporate the recycled content into new hot mix asphalt which is used to pave roads throughout the state.

How asphalt shingles go from rooftop to roadway.

In fact, asphalt roads in Wisconsin can contain up to 5% recycled shingle content. And that’s not theoretical. It’s already happening.

Why Asphalt Recycling is so Effective in Wisconsin

Asphalt is the most recycled material in the world. Unlike concrete, which cures chemically, asphalt simply heats and cools, making it easy to reuse with no loss in performance.

Recycled shingles help reduce the demand for virgin asphalt binder and aggregate, both of which are energy-intensive to produce. And modern asphalt mixes are built to handle Wisconsin’s freeze-thaw cycles, so recycled content doesn’t mean lower quality.

Can Roads Made with Recycled Shingles Handle Wisconsin Winters?

Absolutely. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, these mixes are engineered to flex with freeze-thaw cycles and meet the same performance standards as traditional asphalt. In short: they're built for Wisconsin.

Dane County’s CO₂ Savings from Asphalt Shingle Recycling

In 2025, Dane County expects to recycle 20 thousand tons of shingles. Or 1,781 metric tons of CO₂ savings.

This is equivalent to

• Eliminating 4.5 million driving miles

• Saving 200 thousand gallons of gasoline

• Powering 240 homes for a year

Dane County has grown its shingle recycling program nearly 10x since 2020. And it’s not slowing down.

And the impact of Dane County's program is continuing to grow, each year! The county has increased the total amount of shingle material recycled by nearly 10x since 2020.

Shingle Recycling in Wisconsin and Nationwide: The Bigger Picture

Kafka Granite also collects used shingles from Outagamie, Brown, and other Wisconsin counties. Their Mosinee facility processes up to 35 thousand tons of shingles annually, material that would otherwise head to landfills.

Nationwide, the story is similar. According to the EPA and shinglerecycling.org over 15 million tons of asphalt shingles are removed every year, but only 9–20% of the total is currently recycled. That’s a lot of potential going to waste.

If the U.S. recycled all of its annual asphalt shingle waste we could avoid about 1.4 million tons of CO₂ emissions each year. Taking almost 250 thousand cars off the road would have an equivalent climate impact.

Where do your shingles go? Kafka Granite collects from key sites across Wisconsin to turn old roofs into new roads.

Is Shingle Recycling Cheaper Than the Landfill?

Not always. In Dane County, the tipping fee for shingle recycling is currently a bit higher than for mixed garbage ($62/ton vs. $58/ton), due to the extra handling and transport involved in turning waste into something useful.

But even with a slightly higher drop-off cost, many contractors still choose to recycle for environmental reasons. And because it shows customers they’re doing the right thing. It’s a small added cost with a big downstream impact, especially compared to the price of a new roof.

In Dane County, sustainability may cost a few dollars more per ton, but it keeps thousands of tons out of landfills and helps pave the roads we drive on.

At Sun Vault Roofing, we think that’s a worthwhile trade.

How Asphalt Recycling Saves Money for You and Your Community

The financial benefits of asphalt shingle recycling don't stop at disposal. Agencies that incorporate recycled shingles into asphalt mixes save money, too. According to industry data, recycled pavement and shingles saved U.S. taxpayers more than $3.5 billion in construction costs in 2021 alone. For large paving jobs, using recycled shingles can cut materials costs by $3–5 per ton, adding up to tens or even hundreds of thousands in savings per project.

Is Asphalt as Sustainable as Metal Roofing?

Some homeowners gravitate toward metal roofs because they’re seen as the more sustainable choice. And yes, metal is endlessly recyclable. But so is asphalt. Programs like Dane County’s level the playing field, making it possible to choose asphalt for style, cost, or performance without compromising your values.

Your roof won’t end up in a landfill. At Sun Vault Roofing, when we recycle your shingles, they don’t sit in a dump. They help build the infrastructure we all rely on.

When recycled properly, shingles hold their own against metal on the sustainability front. But when it comes to cost? It’s not even close. Asphalt wins. See how in our full metal vs. asphalt comparison.

Don't let your climate guilt make you pay 2.5x for a shiny house lid that sounds like a snare drum in a rainstorm. Your asphalt roof can have a sustainable second life too.

Sun Vault Roofing’s Commitment to Sustainable Roofing in Wisconsin

At Sun Vault Roofing, we’re proud to participate in shingle recycling programs that reduce waste and support sustainable infrastructure across Wisconsin. If you’re replacing your roof and care about where those shingles end up, you’ve come to the right place.

Ready for a new roof that performs and makes a difference? Schedule your free inspection today.

P.S. Thinking About Solar Too?

If you’re already committed to a smarter, more sustainable home, asphalt recycling is just the start. Our solar roofing systems integrate seamlessly into your new roof: no racks, no eyesores, and no compromise.