North Carolina County Ordinance Targets Construction & Demolition Debris

Chatham County, N.C., recently adopted a construction and demolition (C&D) recycling ordinance that seeks to reduce the amount of C&D debris delivered to landfills in the state.

The ordinance, which went into effect Sept. 1, 2010, applies to any C&D project that is 1,000 square feet or greater within the county’s unincorporated areas. Projects that fall under the ordinance include construction, demolition, deconstruction, repairs, remodels, additions or any other related activity requiring a building permit.

The ordinance requires the completion of a C&D Recycling Document to be signed by the Chatham County Waste Management Department before a building permit will be issued for relevant projects. The document asks applicants to provide details on the C&D debris they expect to generate and how it will be handled.

The ordinance also stipulates that mixed C&D debris must be transported by a C&D hauler licensed by the county. Licensed haulers have agreed to take mixed C&D debris to a licensed C&D facility with a demonstrated recycling rate of at least 30 percent. There currently is no fee to apply for a license.

Companies separating C&D material at the job site are required to report how much material was salvaged and where it was taken.

The North Carolina Waste Management Department says it is building a database of local organizations that will take materials for re-use, recycling or composting.

A list of licensed C&D haulers and facilities, applications, requirements and a copy of the ordinance are available online at www.chathamnc.org.