Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling

In 1996 an estimated 136 million tons of debris was generated from building, renovation and demolition projects across the United States. Construction and demolition (C&D) debris includes bricks, concrete, masonry, soil, lumber, paving materials, shingles, glass, plastics, aluminum, steel, drywall, insulation, roofing materials, plumbing fixtures, electrical materials, siding, packaging and tree stumps. Through deconstruction and recovery, much of this material can be diverted from landfills and reused.

Recovery and deconstruction support community development with environmental, economic, and social benefits, including:

• Reducing pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and the need for landfilling and incineration
• Conserving energy and natural resources
• Creating job training and employment opportunities, including self-employment and small business development
• Providing materials to used building materials stores and value-adding manufacturing enterprises
• Retaining the historical significance of buildings.

Communities can encourage the recycling of materials by making recovery part of the permitting process. A number of communities have passed local ordinances requiring recovery of C&D materials. In 1996, Portland Oregon passed an ordinance requiring job-site recycling on all construction projects with a value exceeding $25,000. In 1999, Atherton, California passed an ordinance that requires all construction, renovation and demolition projects to divert fifty percent of waste from landfills. Within the city, all buildings slated for demolition are made available for deconstruction. The city of Chicago will also have a mandatory 50 percent recycling rate for C&D by 2007.

Initiatives on the state level are also underway. in early 2001, Massachusetts included a ban on recylcable C&D debris from landfills in its proposed Solid Waste Management Plan.

More information about deconstruction and community development through reuse and recycling is available through ILSR's Waste to Wealth program.

RULES:

• Atherton, California
  In 1999, Atherton, California passed an ordinance that requires all construction, renovation and demolition projects to divert fifty percent of waste from landfills. Within the city, all buildings slated for demolition are made available for deconstruction. Also, permits for construction or demolition require a deposit of $50 per ton of waste to be generated, to be returned once the job and related resource recovery are complete. More...
• Chicago, Illinois
  The City of Chicago approved a construction and demolition recycling requirement. The new rules will take effect in January 2006. The initial requirement for recycling will be 25 percent of all recyclable materials measured by weight for projects permitted after January 1, 2006. This will be increased to 50 percent after January 1, 2007. More...