Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance

Which projects are affected by the Ordinance?

Construction projects

Building permits for more than 5,000 square feet of new, added or remodeled floor area.

Commercial demolition projects 

Commercial and multifamily demolition projects of all sizes.

Who is responsible?

General contractors with affected construction and demolition projects within the City of Austin are responsible for being in compliance with the Ordinance and submitting a recycling report.

General contractors should work closely with their subcontractors, licensed hauler(s), and the processors and/or reuse facilities receiving the construction and demolition debris to meet the Ordinance requirements.

What do I need to do?

1. Recycle construction and demolition debris

General contractors with affected projects must do at least one of the following:

• Divert at least 50% of the construction and demolition project debris from the landfill OR
• Dispose of less than 2.5 pounds of construction and demolition debris per square foot of permitted floor area in the landfill.

It's important to prepare in advance to successfully meet the C&D Recycling Ordinance requirements.

General contractors can meet the recycling requirements by reusing construction and demolition material on site, sending separated materials to reuse facilities, sending mixed materials to construction and demolition processors or a combination.

There are several options for hauling and processing construction and demolition debris. Find a licensed hauler and/or processor for construction and demolition debris.

2. Track and log weight tickets throughout project

• Before work begins, inform your subcontractors, licensed hauler(s), and the processors and/or reuse facilities receiving the construction and demolition debris about the Ordinance requirements. Confirm they will provide you with the tons of construction and demolition debris landfilled and diverted from the job site.

• Throughout the project, collect all weight tickets to track your recycling and landfilling rates. Use this weight ticket organizer spreadsheet (.xls) to calculate the tons landfilled and tons diverted. This is not required if all construction and demolition materials were sent to one location and a weight ticket summary was provided. 

3. Submit a recycling report

General contractors with an affected project must submit the required recycling report online when a final building inspection is requested. This report must show how many tons of construction and demolition debris were recycled and landfilled during the project and the project's diversion rate.

Licensed haulers and facilities receiving the construction debris can provide general contractors with the tonnage information they need to complete the recycling report. Learn how to submit the required report. 

Get started on your report: 

Best practices for recycling at construction and demolition sites

1. Create a waste management plan before the project begins. Identify the types of “waste” materials you’ll generate that can be reused and recycled at each stage of the project. Common materials to reuse or recycle:
   • Concrete and paving
   • Corrugated cartons
   • Wood
   • Metal
   • Paper
   • Cardboard
   • Plastics
   • Windows
   • Doors
   • Appliances
   • Light fixtures
   • Furniture
   • Based on the types of recyclable and reusable material you'll generate, choose the right recycling and disposal options and haulers.
     • A mixed construction and demolition processor allows you to combine materials into one dumpster.
     • Processors that require separating materials by type typically allows for more savings (plus, it leads to higher recycling rates).
2. Contact haulers and recyclers early on and confirm that they’ll provide weight tickets for recycled and landfilled materials. IMPORTANT: You’ll need these tickets for your final recycling report, so keep track of them for reporting.
3. Make informed purchasing decisions to minimize waste. Focus on:
   • Ordering only what you need to avoid excess materials.
   • Investing in reusable products, like steel mesh fences.
   • Considering suppliers that offer returnable packaging.
   • Planning deliveries to align with construction phases. 
4. Organize your job site, keeping the recycling and disposal equipment and options in mind. Consider the following:
   • Determine the number of dumpsters and recycling bins needed.
   • Clearly label containers to encourage proper sorting.
   • Place recycling bins next to trash bins to reduce contamination risk.
   • Create separate areas for reusable materials, recycling, donations, and hazardous materials.
   • Cover bins overnight and place them strategically to prevent illegal dumping.
   • Store and cover materials properly to minimize weather damage. 
5. Train and educate your team on proper recycling practices. Use these strategies:
   • Hold meetings or orientations to explain recycling procedures.
   • Provide written guidelines for all workers, including subcontractors.
   • Use photos to illustrate the impact of incorrect recycling.

Ordinance exemptions

The Ordinance exempts excavated soil, stone, land-clearing debris, special waste and hazardous material, including asbestos and materials containing lead. General contractors should ensure those materials are handled in accordance with appropriate local and state regulations.

Non-compliant projects

If a general contractor is unable to meet the recycling requirements for an affected project, the contractor can request a waiver through the online recycling report. However, the general contractor must provide evidence that there was a good faith effort to meet Ordinance requirements. Otherwise, the waiver request may be denied. 

A general contractor whose affected project does not meet the Ordinance requirements, and who does not have an approved waiver is in violation of the Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance (Austin City Code Chapter 15-6) and may result in a follow up by the City of Austin Commercial Compliance Unit. The general contractor may also be subject to a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by fines up to $500 per day, per offense.