Planning timeline
- 1 week out: Book the can for the morning before tear-off
- Day before: Confirm placement: tight to the eave your crew strips first
- Tear-off day: Shingles drop straight to the can; keep the deck feeding it
- Same evening: Magnet-sweep the lawn and drive for nails
- Wrap: Call for pickup or a swap if a second layer surprised you
Safety reminders
- Tarp landscaping and AC units in the drop zone
- Magnet-sweep twice — nails hide for weeks
- Keep the can's swing-door side clear for ground crew
- Watch overhead lines: the truck needs 20+ feet of clearance
Dumpster sizing
Plan ~25–30 squares of architectural shingle per 20-yard, single layer. Double layer? Add 40–50% to your square count before sizing, or plan a mid-job swap. Not sure? Take the 60-second size quiz or see the full comparison chart.
Tips from the pros
- Placement beats hauling — a can at the drip line saves hours of wheelbarrowing
- Load evenly front to back; shingles get heavy fast
- Shingles ride flat-rate as C&D — keep household junk out
- Call for the swap when the first can nears the line, not after
Recycling suggestions
- Metal drip edge and flashing: scrap it — metal loads dump free
- Intact bundles left over: return or sell them
- Underlayment wrappers: bag them so they don't blow
Common mistakes to avoid
- Guessing single layer on a 1990s roof
- Placing the can where the truck can't retrieve it loaded
- Letting shingles pile on the lawn 'for now'
- Skipping the second magnet sweep
Want the deeper read? See the full blog guide on this project.