The types of requirements vary from state to state. A permit to operate a processing facility may be required in some areas and environmental testing may be required in other areas. In addition, depending on the particulate emissions from the recycling process, an air permit may be required at the facility. The single biggest issue that has been raised with respect to asphalt shingle recycling is asbestos. A naturally occurring mineral that has been used in many different products in the past, asbestos has been raised as a concern with asphalt shingles. The vast majority of tests conducted on asphalt shingles have found no asbestos. But some types of other asphalt roofing products, such as roll roofing, adhesives, paints or waterproofing compounds may contain asbestos. To strike a balance between the protection of human health and the encouragement of recycling, several states have worked with recyclers to conduct initial testing on their waste stream to demonstrate the safety of their operation.

An overview of asbestos issues and regulations
Current information of the presence of asbestos in asphalt shingles

Case study of successful recycling: Maine