Waste Reduction
Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris Recovery Program
To maximize the recycling of construction and demolition debris
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On July 1, 2006, the City and County of San Francisco’s Construction and Demolition Debris Recovery Ordinance took effect. This ordinance applies to all construction projects within the City and County of San Francisco, including new construction, remodels, tenant improvements, additions, repairs, and full and partial demolitions.
The program requires mixed C&D debris to be transported off-site by a Registered Transporter. Those exempt from registration requirements include:
• Transporters hauling less than 1 cubic yard of material, using vehicles with no more than two axles (and no more than two tires per axle), and removing materials source-separated on site
• Property owners removing mixed construction and demolition waste materials with personal vehicles
The mixed debris must be taken to a Registered Facility (approved by Department of the Environment) that processes mixed C&D debris, and demonstrates a recycling rate of 65%.
• Facilities processing ONLY clean material already source-separated on site
Before full demolitions, the permit applicant must submit a Demolition Debris Recovery Plan (DDRP) to the Department of the Environment. Environment Department approval precedes the issuance of a Full Demolition Permit by the Department of Building Inspection. Ultimately the DDRP must demonstrate how a minimum of 65% of demolition material will be diverted from landfill.
Additional regulations require municipal facilities to divert a minimum 75% for new or existing constructions or remodels of City properties, prepare a Solid Waste Management Plan (prior to a project’s commencement), and issue monthly diversion reports as well as a final report.
Outreach material included handouts that are provided with every building permit issued by the Department of Building Inspection. The Department will also make presentations to applicable parties.
In June, 2008, there were 184 registered transporters and 9 facilities from 14 counties; 38 DDRP applications had been approved by the Department of Building Inspection. From final reports, the Ordinance had achieved diversion rates up to 87%-97%.
Substantial landfill diversion of C&D materials has been realized due to successful implementation of this ordinance. In the first year alone, registered facilities showed an increase of over 26,000 tons of mixed debris diversion or of 25%. Additionally, material taken from San Francisco to a local landfill decreased by 13,000 tons, or 15%.
The Ordinance does not require fees, bonds, or deposits to fund and ensure compliance.
Enforcement is under authority of the Department of Building Inspection and the Department of the Environment. Penalties for non-compliance include fines up to $1000 a day for the first infringement, up to $5000 for a second infringement, and the possibility of jail for repeated violations.
With a minimum of 50% waste diversion from landfills required by state law, San Francisco Board of Supervisors set a goal of diverting 75% of waste by 2010 and established a zero waste goal by 2020. With these goals in place, the City strives to find landfill alternatives for Construction and Demolition materials deriving from high volume heavy construction.
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