California City Considers C&D Recycling Ordinance

The City Council of Barstow, Calif., has been considering a proposed construction and demolition debris recycling ordinance, according to a report in the Desert Dispatch (Barstow, Calif.).

If approved, the legislation would require applicants for building and demolition permits to recycle as much of the debris from the projects as possible.

According to the report, a draft of the proposed ordinance establishes a recycling program for construction projects at a cost of more than $50,000 and demolition projects at a cost of more than $25,000.

Barstow joins a growing number of cities considering legislation to meet California’s strict 50-percent recycling requirements. San Diego approved a C&D recycling mandate in September 2005 and Apple Valley, Calif., approved a similar ordinance in October.

While some research finds that C&D debris makes up slightly less than 20 percent of the waste stream in the city, Barstow already has topped the 50 percent recovery level as mandated by California's AB 939.

One problem for the city is there isn't any end markets to handle C&D in the city. Belinda Barber, a spokeswoman for the city, says that at the present time material collected by the city's franchise handler is shipped roughly 30 miles away. However, the city is hoping to attract an operation that could do processing of the C&D material in the city.