Local Government Construction & Demolition (C&D) Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

This section contains construction and demolition (C&D) diversion related questions frequently asked by stake holders involved in the C&D diversion process (e.g. cities, counties, contractors, recyclers, etc). This section will be updated regularly, so if you have any C&D diversion-related questions that you would like addressed, please send them to Diana Suarez-Arguelles.

Workshop

The transcript (Adobe PDF, 1.3 MB) of the July 8, 2004, CIWMB workshop on construction and demolition waste diversion ordinances provides other information that may useful to you. Pages 98-140 of this 142-page transcript contain questions and answers that came up at the workshop.

Other Questions

Question (Jurisdiction): Are cities mandated by SB 1374 to adopt the CIWMB’s Model C&D Diversion Ordinance?

Answer: No, the CIWMB’s C&D Model Ordinance was developed as a tool for jurisdictional use. In earlier versions of SB 1374, Jurisdictions were mandated to adopt the model C&D diversion ordinance. However, in the final chaptered bill, this requirement was taken out.

Question (Jurisdiction): How can a city determine a threshold for their C&D Ordinance? Answer: A threshold is a set ‘ target’ for a city. The threshold will list projects that must comply with the C&D Diversion Ordinance. A city can choose which project to target. Projects can be targeted by project cost or type. To get the largest amount of C&D out of the waste stream, jurisdictions could look at building permits and determine what types of projects, or what project cost amounts generate the most waste. Once the highest and/or most frequently occurring projects generating C&D waste have been identified, then the city could set their threshold in a way that captures the most C&D waste and target these projects for diversion.

Question (Jurisdiction): Could a city that is looking to adopt a C&D ordinance save time by just finding another city of similar size and conditions that has already adopted an ordinance, and adopt theirs?

Answer: Every city is different, and each waste stream is different. If a city is considering adoption of a C&D ordinance, while they may benefit by knowing about how C&D ordinances are working in neighboring or similar jurisdictions, they should base their ordinance on conditions specific to the city. The city should identify their infrastructure and know their own waste stream and then tailor their ordinance to their diversion needs.

Question (Jurisdiction/Industry): How is a diversion rate set in an ordinance?

Answer: A diversion rate can be set for C&D materials overall, or by material type. The CIWMB’s Model Ordinance recommends 50 percent and above for overall C&D diversion, but a city has the option to set the rate.

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Last updated: December 28, 2007