Key takeaways

  • A shed is only partly recyclable. Clean lumber, metal, concrete and some rigid plastic have recycling routes. Treated wood, painted wood, shingles and mixed debris mostly go to landfill.
  • That matches the national picture. In 2018, the EPA estimates 29.6 of 40.8 million tons of C&D wood and 13.0 of 15.1 million tons of asphalt shingles went to landfill.
  • Never burn shed wood. The EPA says not to burn treated wood at home, and lists painted wood and plywood among things never to burn.
  • Sorting can cut your dump bill. At San Diego's Miramar Landfill, a pickup of clean wood costs $25 and the same pickup of mixed C&D debris costs $108.
  • Cover the load or pay more. Larimer County, Colorado, doubles the fee for uncovered loads. Miramar adds $50, King County $25 and Phoenix $20.
  • Empty the shed first. Paint, pesticides and gasoline go to a household hazardous waste program, which is often free for residents.

People ask "can you recycle a shed?" and "where do I dump an old shed?" as if the shed were one thing. It isn't. A typical backyard shed is framing lumber, sheathing, siding, roofing, hardware and a floor, sometimes on a concrete slab. Each material has its own route. Some of those routes save money, and some are illegal to skip. This guide takes a shed apart material by material, then covers dump fees, loading rules and what to do with everything stored inside.

What counts as C&D debris, and why it matters

When a shed comes down, it becomes construction and demolition (C&D) debris. The EPA treats C&D debris as a separate waste stream from household trash (municipal solid waste). It counts steel, wood products, drywall and plaster, brick and clay tile, asphalt shingles, concrete and asphalt concrete as C&D materials.

That label decides where your shed can go. Many landfills and transfer stations price C&D debris separately from household garbage, and some won't take it in a curbside cart or bulky pickup at all. Denver's large item pickup, for example, lists "construction materials (including concrete, bricks, fencing, and pallets)" among things it won't collect.

EPA C&D facts and figures

The EPA estimated that 600 million tons of C&D debris were generated in the United States in 2018. That's more than twice the amount of municipal solid waste. Demolition was more than 90 percent of it; construction was under 10 percent. About 457 million tons went to a "next use," mainly crushed aggregate, and about 144 million tons went to landfills.

US C&D debris from shed-type materials, 2018, in millions of tons. Source: EPA, Advancing Sustainable Materials Management 2018 Fact Sheet, tables 6 and 8.
MaterialGeneratedSent to landfillSent to a next useMain next use
Concrete405.271.2334.0Aggregate (301.2)
Wood40.829.611.2Fuel (7.5), compost and mulch (2.5)
Asphalt shingles15.113.02.1Manufactured products (2.0)
Metal (steel)4.71.13.6Manufactured products (3.6)

The EPA's summary is blunt: landfills were "the primary destination" for C&D wood, asphalt shingles, drywall, and brick and clay tile. A shed is mostly wood and shingles, which is why most of a typical shed is landfilled even when someone tries hard to recycle it.

A shed, material by material

What's accepted depends on the facilities near you, so check your local disposal guide before you load anything. We use Fort Collins, Colorado's Recycling A to Z guide as a running example because it lists a specific answer for almost every shed material.

Where each shed material usually goes. Always confirm with your local facilities.
MaterialRecyclable?Usual destination
Clean, unpainted lumber and palletsOftenWood recycling or green waste programs that accept it
Plywood and OSBSometimesSome wood recyclers; otherwise C&D landfill
Pressure-treated woodNoReuse, or landfill. Never burn.
Painted or stained woodRarelyReuse, or landfill. Never burn.
Asphalt shinglesWhere a shingle recycler existsShingle recycler, or landfill
Metal panels, roofing, hardwareYesScrap metal recycler
Resin or plastic shed panelsNot curbside; some drop-offsBulky rigid plastic drop-off, or landfill
Window glassNot curbsideSpecialty glass recycler, or trash if broken
Concrete slab or piersOftenConcrete recycler (rebar rules vary), or rubble disposal

Clean dimensional lumber, plywood and OSB

Unpainted, untreated framing lumber is the most recyclable part of a wood shed. Fort Collins says untreated wood waste, including dimensional lumber, pallets, scrap wood and shake shingles, can be recycled at listed drop-off sites, and that "some locations may accept composites, like plywood." Larimer County's green waste program accepts "clean lumber and pallets."

Recycled wood typically becomes mulch, compost or fuel. The EPA lists engineered-wood products, mulch and compost among the uses for recovered wood. Sound lumber can also be reused as is. Fort Collins lists a deconstruction yard, Rica Lumber & Deconstruction, that takes construction-grade lumber by appointment.

To qualify as clean wood, pull nails and screws where the facility asks, and keep it free of shingles, tar paper, plastic and dirt. One contaminated board can get a load reclassified as mixed debris.

Pressure-treated wood

Floor joists, skids and the bottom plates of many sheds are pressure-treated, because they sit on or near the ground. Older treated wood may contain CCA (chromated copper arsenate). The EPA says CCA manufacturers voluntarily stopped making treated wood for homeowner uses in December 2003, so a shed older than that may have it.

The EPA's guidance for homeowners is simple:

  • Disposal: CCA-treated wood "can usually be disposed of by ordinary trash collection," meaning as municipal solid waste. In practice, for a whole shed, that means a landfill or transfer station.
  • Never burn it: "Do not burn CCA or other preservative-treated wood in a residential setting," because of toxic chemicals in the smoke and ash.

Don't put it in a wood recycling or green waste pile. Larimer County lists treated wood as unacceptable in its green waste program, and Fort Collins says treated or painted wood "is not accepted at local drop-off locations for recycling." Keep treated wood separate from your clean pile.

Painted wood

Paint usually rules wood out of recycling programs, as Fort Collins' guide shows. It's also a safety question in older sheds. The EPA says homes built before 1978 are more likely to have lead-based paint, the year the federal government banned it for residential use. A shed painted with leftover house paint can carry the same risk.

The EPA changed its rules in 2003 so that do-it-yourselfers and contractors can take residential lead-based paint waste to C&D landfills, and municipal solid waste landfills can still accept it too. Don't sand or burn old paint. EPA Burn Wise lists "coated, painted, and pressure-treated wood" among materials you should never burn. See old shed hazards before you start cutting.

Asphalt shingles

Shingles are heavy, and they're one of the materials most likely to be landfilled. The EPA estimated 15.1 million tons of asphalt shingle C&D debris in 2018, and 13.0 million tons of it went to landfill.

Recycling does exist. ShingleRecycling.org, run by the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association, says more than 16 million tons of shingle waste have been recycled into asphalt roads since 2009. That's about 1.067 million tons a year, "only a fraction of the shingle waste generated." Its Find a Recycler map searches by state, city or ZIP code. It notes that listings depend on recyclers keeping them current, so call first.

Availability is patchy. Fort Collins' guide says "there are currently no facilities in Colorado that are able to accept asphalt shingles for recycling." In Larimer County, shingles are priced as their own category at the landfill: $36 per cubic yard plus a state surcharge in 2026.

One caution for old roofs: the EPA lists roofing and siding shingles among building products that have contained asbestos. If you don't know what an old shed's roofing or siding is made of, have it tested before you break it up.

Metal sheds, metal roofing and hardware

Metal is the easiest win. Steel panels, metal roofing, door tracks and hinges can go to a scrap metal recycler. The EPA counts 4.7 million tons of C&D steel in 2018, and 3.6 million tons went to manufactured products rather than landfill.

Scrap yards and drop-offs have prep rules. Fort Collins says an item must be at least 50 percent metal to recycle as scrap, and that scrap metal "should never be included in curbside recycling." Hennepin County, Minnesota's drop-offs want pieces 4 feet or less, with non-metal parts removed. A metal shed often comes apart into flat panels with a drill, which makes both rules easy to meet.

Resin and plastic sheds

Plastic sheds are the most misunderstood. They don't go in a curbside recycling cart. Carts are for bottles, jugs and tubs, not big molded panels.

Some drop-off centers take what they call bulky rigid plastics. Fort Collins defines these as items marked #2 (HDPE), #4 (LDPE) or #5 (PP) that are too large for curbside, such as lawn furniture and play structures. Its Timberline Recycling Center accepts them with a $5 entry fee, after you remove "all metals (e.g. screws, bolts, axles, bins, hinges, handles; etc.)." Look for the resin number molded into the panels. If there's no number, or no such drop-off near you, the shed goes to the landfill with other debris.

Window glass

Shed windows aren't the same glass as bottles and jars. Fort Collins says window glass "cannot be recycled with them" and lists a single specialty drop-off for it, Glass to Glass in Broomfield, Colorado. Broken glass should never go in a recycling cart; Fort Collins says to wrap it in heavy paper or cardboard and put it in the trash.

Concrete slab, piers and blocks

Concrete is the most recycled C&D material by far. The EPA estimates 301 million tons of C&D concrete went to aggregate in 2018. A shed slab or pier blocks can often go to a concrete recycler or crushing yard.

The catch is rebar and wire mesh. Fort Collins lists several concrete recyclers and notes that many "do not accept concrete that contains rebar," while some take it either way. Larimer County's landfill charges $40 per cubic yard, plus the state surcharge, for rubble such as concrete, dirt and asphalt. How shed foundations come out.

Rather not sort it all yourself? Shed Gone takes the shed down, separates what can be recycled where a facility near you takes it, and hauls the rest.

Get a shed removal quote ↗

How landfills and transfer stations charge

There are two basic pricing models, and many facilities use both.

  • By weight (per ton). You drive over a scale on the way in and out. Most per-ton sites also have a minimum charge, so a small load costs the minimum.
  • By vehicle or volume (per load or per cubic yard). Smaller sites without scales price by the vehicle, the bag or the cubic yard. Some scale sites also use flat vehicle rates for small loads.
Published disposal fees at named facilities, checked October 2026. Rates change; confirm before you go.
FacilityHow it chargesPublished fees
Larimer County landfill and transfer station, COFlat vehicle rate or per cubic yardPickup or cargo van flat fee $37; loose loads in trailers $13.25 per cubic yard (2 cubic yard minimum); shingles $36 and rubble $40 per cubic yard plus state surcharge; uncovered loads pay double
Mesa County Landfill, Grand Junction area, COPer tonLoose waste $32 a ton and compacted waste $30 a ton, after reductions effective February 3, 2025
Allenspark Transfer and Recycle, Boulder County, COPer vehicle or per cubic yardLoose trash $16 per cubic yard; vehicles from $25 for a car to $80 for a fully loaded pickup; scrap metal free. Doesn't accept C&D debris from businesses.
Miramar Landfill, San Diego, CAPer vehicle tier or per tonPickup (Tier 1, city waste): C&D debris $108, general refuse $75, clean wood $25. Weighed loads: C&D $241 a ton, clean wood $36 a ton. $50 for uncovered loads.
King County transfer stations, WAPer ton with a minimumGarbage $243.38 a ton, $40.25 minimum (up to 320 lb); clean wood $129.38 a ton, $20.70 minimum; $25 unsecured load fee
City of Phoenix transfer stations, AZPer tonResidents: first ton per calendar month free with a water bill and photo ID, then $55 a ton; $20 penalty for unsecured loads

Two things stand out. First, prices vary a lot by region: a ton of garbage costs $32 at Mesa County and $243.38 at King County. Second, the category matters as much as the weight. At Miramar, a pickup load of mixed C&D debris costs more than four times a pickup load of clean wood.

For what these fees mean for a whole job, see shed removal cost.

Sorting to save money

Because facilities charge less, or nothing, for separated materials, a little sorting during teardown can pay off. Here's a practical order.

  1. Look up every facility first. Search your city or county name with "disposal guide" or "recycling A to Z." Note which sites take clean wood, scrap metal, concrete and shingles, and their fees and hours.
  2. Empty the shed. Hazardous products come out first and go to a separate program (see below).
  3. Strip the metal. Hinges, door tracks, gutters, metal roofing and screws go in a scrap bucket. Allenspark and Fort Collins' Timberline center take scrap metal, and scrap yards may pay for it.
  4. Keep clean wood clean. Stack unpainted, untreated lumber separately. Remove nails if the facility requires it.
  5. Bag treated and painted wood as trash. It goes with the mixed debris load. Don't let it touch the clean pile.
  6. Handle shingles and concrete as their own loads. Both are heavy and often have their own rate or their own recycler.
  7. Count the trips. Separate loads can mean separate minimums or entry fees. Sorting saves the most when the price gap is large, as at Miramar, and less when one flat vehicle fee covers everything.

Before any of this, ask whether the shed has to be destroyed at all. A sound shed can sometimes be sold or given away or moved. That's the cleanest disposal there is.

How to load and cover a load

Every facility in the table above has a rule about securing loads, and most charge for breaking it:

  • Larimer County: "Unsecured or uncovered loads are subject to double fees at all locations."
  • Miramar Landfill: "All loads MUST be covered," with a $50 fee for uncovered loads.
  • King County: a $25 fee for any vehicle that arrives with an unsecured load.
  • Phoenix: loads must be "properly secured from the point of origin to the end destination," or a $20 penalty applies.

Shed debris is awkward: long boards, sharp metal, loose shingles and insulation that can blow out. A few habits help:

  • Load heavy and flat first. Concrete, shingles and long lumber go low and forward. Light, loose material goes on top.
  • Cut long pieces to fit. Nothing should overhang more than your state allows.
  • Tarp everything, then strap it. Use a tarp that covers the whole bed and tie it down at several points so it can't balloon. Net or rope over the tarp holds loose material.
  • Don't overload. Check your truck's or trailer's payload rating, especially with concrete or shingles. San Diego's Miramar tiers, for example, put pickups under 1 ton in Tier 1 and pickup-trailer combos in Tier 2.

What to do with what's inside the shed

Sheds collect the products the EPA calls household hazardous waste (HHW): leftover products that "can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive or toxic." Paint, pesticides, fertilizers, gasoline, motor oil, propane cylinders and batteries are typical. The EPA warns against pouring them down the drain, on the ground or into storm sewers, and in some cases against putting them out with the trash.

Landfills and transfer stations generally won't take them in a debris load. Phoenix's transfer stations list hazardous waste as prohibited, and Miramar requires household hazardous materials to be "properly disposed of before entering landfill." Denver's large item pickup also excludes paint and other hazardous materials.

How HHW programs work

  • Larimer County, Colorado takes typical household hazardous waste from county residents for free, including paint, lawn chemicals, gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze and grill-size propane tanks. The limit is 30 gallons per vehicle, measured by container size, and containers over 5 gallons aren't accepted.
  • King County, Washington runs four permanent sites plus a traveling Wastemobile from February to October. It accepts household products such as paint, pesticides and gasoline, with "no fee" and no appointment needed.
  • PaintCare in Colorado takes house paint, primers, stains, sealers and clear coatings free at 223 year-round drop-off sites. The program launched in July 2015 and is paid for by a fee added when paint is bought.

Fort Collins' guide sums up the rule of thumb: gasoline and pesticides go to household hazardous waste, and pesticides "should never be placed in curbside recycling, any recycling drop off, or the trash."

Tips for the hazardous stuff

  • Keep products in their original, labeled containers. The EPA warns never to mix them, because they can "react, ignite, or explode."
  • Drain gas from mowers, trimmers and cans before the equipment goes to scrap. Fort Collins says scrap items with liquids must be emptied first.
  • Usable paint and cleaners may be reusable. Larimer County's facility runs a "Drop 'N Swap," according to Fort Collins' guide.

What a removal company does with it

A shed removal company faces the same rules and fees you do. The difference is that sorting, loading, covering and the trips to each facility are its job. When we quote a removal, we ask for photos of the shed, the route from the shed to the street, and what stays, such as a slab you want to keep. When comparing companies, ask whether disposal fees are in the price and whether you need to empty out hazardous products first.

For every option, from DIY teardown to bulky pickup, see how to get rid of a shed and how to tear down a shed. If you're in Colorado, start with shed removal in Colorado or Denver.

Rather not deal with it? Send us photos of your shed and the way out, and we'll quote the teardown, haul-away and disposal.

Get a shed removal quote ↗

Frequently asked questions

Can you recycle an old shed?

Parts of it. Clean untreated lumber, metal and concrete each have a recycling route where a facility near you takes them. Treated or painted wood, asphalt shingles and mixed debris usually end up in a landfill. The EPA's 2018 figures show landfills were the main destination for C&D wood and asphalt shingles nationally.

Where can I dump an old shed?

At a landfill or transfer station that accepts construction and demolition debris. Call or check the fee page first, because some sites charge by the ton and others by the load or cubic yard. City bulky pickup usually won't take it; Denver's large item pickup, for example, excludes construction materials.

Can I burn my old shed?

Don't. The EPA says not to burn CCA or other preservative-treated wood in a residential setting, and its Burn Wise program lists painted, coated and pressure-treated wood, plywood and particle board as things never to burn. Local burn rules may ban it outright too.

How do I get rid of pressure-treated wood?

Reuse it if it's sound, or take it to a landfill. The EPA says homeowners can usually dispose of CCA-treated wood with ordinary trash. Wood recycling and green waste programs generally won't take it; Larimer County, Colorado, lists treated wood as unacceptable in its green waste program.

Are asphalt shingles recyclable?

In some places. Recycled shingles go mainly into asphalt paving, and the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association's ShingleRecycling.org has a recycler directory. Availability is patchy: Fort Collins, Colorado, says no facilities in Colorado currently accept asphalt shingles for recycling.

Can a plastic resin shed go in my recycling cart?

No. Curbside carts are for containers. Some drop-off sites take large "bulky rigid plastics" marked #2 or #5 once the metal hardware is removed, such as Fort Collins' Timberline Recycling Center. Otherwise a resin shed goes to the landfill.

What do I do with old paint and gas cans in the shed?

Take them to a household hazardous waste program. They're free for residents in places like Larimer County, Colorado, and King County, Washington. In Colorado, leftover house paint can also go to one of PaintCare's drop-off sites at no charge.

Sources