NOTE: Treated Wood Waste (TWW) is accepted at the Berkeley Transfer Station, but it must be segregated and placed in a separate bin for proper disposal. TWW is not recyclable and it is charged at the refuse rate.

Construction & Demolition Waste Diversion

The City of Berkeley adopted local amendments to the California Green Building Standards Code 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 debris recovery plan for managing your C&D waste. Document this plan by using Green Halo Systems (also accessible through Berkeley.WasteTracking.com). 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 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.  Photos are acceptable for salvaged/reused materials.

Step 4: Upload recycling and disposal receipts using Green Halo Systems and submit online for City review and approval prior to final inspection.

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 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.