Construction & Demolition Waste Diversion

The City of Berkeley adopted local amendments to the California Green Building Standards Code, 2016 Edition, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11, impacting waste diversion as documented in the Berkeley Municipal Code, Chapter 19.37 (Berkeley Green Code).

Construction and Demolition (C&D) projects subject to waste diversion requirements:

Nonresidential buildings

• newly constructed buildings 
• additions 
• alterations 
• demolitions 

Residential buildings 

• newly constructed buildings 
• additions or alterations which increase a building’s conditioned area, volume or size  
• any building alteration with a permit valuation over $100,000 
• any interior or exterior demolition valued over $3,000 

Diversion requirements: The City of Berkeley requires that 100% of asphalt, concrete, excavated soil and land-clearing debris and a minimum of 65% of other nonhazardous construction and demolition waste shall be diverted from disposal at subject building projects by recycling, reuse, or salvage.  

Forms:

Construction Waste Management Plan  (also available at Frequently Requested Planning and Development Forms)  

How to comply with Waste Diversion Requirements:

Step 1: Create a plan for managing your C&D waste. Document this plan by using Green Halo Systems (also accessible through Berkeley.WasteTracking.com) or by manually filling out the section labeled "Complete during Plan Check" on the second page of the Construction Waste Management Plan. Green Halo Systems is a free online tool that can help you create your plan, upload your recycling data throughout your construction process, and generate your final report for project compliance.

Step 2: Complete the first page of the Construction Waste Management Plan and submit this form with your Building Permit Application.  

Step 3: Divert debris according to your plan and collect required documentation. Get construction debris receipts from sorting facilities in order to verify diversion requirements.

Step 4: Upload recycling and disposal receipts if using Green Halo Systems and submit online for City review and approval prior to final inspection. Alternatively, fill out the "Complete during Inspection" section on the second page of your original Construction Waste Management Plan and present it, along with your construction debris receipts, to the Building Inspector by the final inspection to demonstrate diversion rate compliance.

Assistance: The Berkeley Transfer Station at 1201 Second Street accepts C&D debris and other materials; see www.cityofberkeley.info/transferstation for details. To find other facilities that accept C&D debris or hazardous waste and materials, use Green Halo Systems or see the StopWaste's Recycle Where? tool. For assistance with permitting and inspection requirements, contact Building and Safety at 510-981-7440 or buildingandsafety@cityofberkeley.info.