Increase Construction Waste Recycling Updated March 2012 For more information, see www.sustainablejersey.com. The goal of this action is to increase recycling of construction and demolition debris through the adoption of a municipal policy. Such a policy would require that a certain percentage of the construction and demolition (C&D) debris generated from municipal projects be diverted from landfill disposal and instead managed through reuse and recycling options. These actions divert construction, demolition, and land-clearing debris from disposal in landfills and incinerators and can direct recyclable recovered resources back to the manufacturing or construction process. To satisfy the requirements for this action you must implement a policy covering municipal facilities. You are encouraged, but not required, to pass an accompanying ordinance that covers all buildings and construction in the municipality. The Green Building Policy/Resolution action is a pre-requisite and must be completed before points will be awarded for this action. Alternatively, adoption of the Sustainable Land Use Pledge satisfies this pre-requisite. Please see the Green Building Policy/Resolution action here for details on meeting the requirements for the prerequisite. *Energy efficiency and renewable energy are important aspects of green building. Please see the actions addressing energy efficiency (High Performance Building and High Performance Building Portfolio) and renewable energy (Solar, Wind, and Geothermal) covered in separate Sustainable Jersey actions. Who should lead and be involved with this action? The recycling coordinator needs to work with your municipality‟s engineer. In addition, the municipality may want to seek input from representatives of the following groups: NJDEP, the County Improvement Authority that deals with solid waste and recycling, the township‟s developers, contractors, and trades people, trash and recycling haulers, and end-market representatives.
Timeframe It will take approximately three to six months to develop a policy and procedure for municipal construction projects. Once a construction project begins, ongoing training and work with contractors will be needed to ensure compliance with the municipality‟s construction waste recycling policy. Project Costs and Resource Needs Costs will be limited to the staff time necessary to review existing ordinances and to develop a draft policy. Additional resources will be required for legal and planning review by municipal consultants. The implementation of the policy will be more effective if a construction demolition training program is instituted for contractors and municipal codes and construction inspection officials working on municipal construction projects. Why is it Important? Recycling and composting are integral to New Jersey‟s solid waste management system, and are sustainable strategies that also should not be overlooked by municipalities. While county recycling plans designate those recyclable materials that must be recycled within each county, as well as the collection strategy to be used therein, municipalities are free to establish enhanced recycling and composting programs that go beyond the requirements set forth in county recycling plans. Clearly, municipalities that establish such comprehensive recycling and composting programs are doing their utmost to promote sustainability within their communities. Developers can also have a major impact on the amount of solid waste generated, recycled, and disposed within a municipality. By incorporating recycling into their construction and demolition plans, developers will save money and improve their bottom line while supporting the environmental goals of the state and local jurisdiction. Communities that adopt a construction and demolition waste recycling ordinance typically require that a certain percentage of the C&D debris generated from projects be diverted from landfill disposal and instead managed through reuse and recycling options. What to do, and how to do it (“How to”) Below we have listed the requirements for earning points for this action. 1. Adopt a Green Building Policy/Resolution. The Green Building Policy/Resolution action is a pre-requisite and must be completed before points will be awarded for this action. Alternatively, adoption of the Sustainable Land Use Pledge satisfies this prerequisite.
2. Adopt a Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Policy for municipal facilities or Ordinance for municipal and private sector projects. Your policy and/or ordinance should be in effect at the time of your application for certification. 3. Provide a summary of the impacts of this policy/ordinance. For example, please note whether this ordinance/policy has resulted in added costs to projects; whether your municipality has encountered résistance to its implementation; whether it has increased recycling rates on construction projects or any other information that summarizes the impacts of this policy/ordinance. We have provided recommendations for implementing the action. You do not need to follow this guidance exactly as long as your final product meets the requirements. 1. Adopt a Green Building Policy/Resolution. Adoption of a Green Design Resolution is required to receive points for any other Green Design action. 2. To start this process, assemble a workgroup, possibly through the Green Team, Environmental Commission, or Planning Board, to review existing construction and demolition policies and program materials. 3. Draft a municipal policy (or associated municipal Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Ordinance that would also apply to municipal facilities) for consideration by the planning board and municipal council. Woolwich, NJ has a construction waste recycling ordinance that can serve as a resource to municipalities that want to adopt a construction waste recycling policy of their own. This ordinance requires that all applicants for a Building Permit or a Demolition/Removal Permit, including the Township of Woolwich, submit a properly completed Waste Management Form Part I with the Building Permit or Demolition/Removal Permit application, in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Code of Woolwich Township. Township of Woolwich Sample Ordinance, Application Instructions, and Forms I and II: http://www.sustainablejersey.com/editor/doc/act5tb1sa3105.doc 4. Provide information on the need for and benefits of implementing construction and demolition recycling programs. Hold public meeting(s) to solicit input on the policy/ordinance and refine based on the feedback provided. 5. Solicit municipal legal and planning review of the draft policy/ordinance. 6. Recommend the policy for adoption to the municipal governing body. If an ordinance is developed, present the final ordinance to the appropriate approval entity for adoption.
What to submit to get credit/points In order to earn points, your submission must meet the following standards: 1. Adopt a Green Building Policy/Resolution. The Green Building Policy/Resolution action is a pre-requisite and must be completed before points will be awarded for this action. Alternatively, adoption of the Sustainable Land Use Pledge satisfies this prerequisite. 2. Adopt a Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Policy for municipal facilities or Ordinance for municipal and private sector projects. Your policy and/or ordinance should be in effect at the time of your application for certification. 3. Provide a summary of the impacts of this policy/ordinance. For example, please note whether this ordinance/policy has resulted in added costs to projects; whether your municipality has encountered résistance to its implementation; whether it has increased recycling rates on construction projects or any other information that summarizes the impacts of this policy/ordinance. Submit the following documentation to verify the action was completed to the above standards. (Log in to the password protected webpage where you submit your online application for certification to write in the text box and upload documents). In the text box, please provide a short narrative (300 word max) to summarize what was accomplished and the general steps taken to accomplish it. 1. In “upload file 1,” submit your municipality‟s Green Building Policy/Resolution. 2. In “upload file 2,” submit your municipality‟s Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Policy or Ordinance. 3. In “upload file 3,” submit a summary of the impacts of this policy/ordinance. IMPORTANT NOTES: Please excerpt relevant information from large documents. Please remember that your submissions will be viewable by the public as part of your certified report. Spotlight: What NJ towns are doing Woolwich, NJ – The NJ Waste Wise Business Network Newsletter 2007 featured the following article entitled, “Woolwich Township Takes On C&D Waste.” Woolwich Township is not only one of the fastest growing communities in Gloucester County, but also one of the most progressive when it comes to construction and demolition waste management. With the pace of new development showing no signs of easing, township officials have addressed the growing quantity of construction and demolition waste being generated in the municipality through an innovative new C&D recycling ordinance.
The ordinance, which took effect on April 16, 2007, requires that 65% of C&D debris generated from construction projects be diverted from landfill disposal and instead managed through reuse and recycling options. Integral to the ordinance is a requirement that all applicants for a building permit or demolition/removal permit must first submit information about the anticipated amount of debris to be generated and recycled by the project. Those that do not comply with this pre-construction requirement will not be issued a building or demolition/removal permit. Applicants are also required to submit information at the conclusion of their project that documents the actual amount of waste disposed and recycled. The ordinance includes fines and penalties for non-compliance. Township officials worked with area builders prior to initiating this program. The municipality is currently building a new municipal building and the general contractor is following their adopted construction recycling ordinance and procedures as established. For further details on this program, contact Mark Fruits of Woolwich Township at 856-467-1445, ext. 114. Township of Woolwich Sample Ordinance, Application Instructions, and Forms I and II: http://www.sustainablejersey.com/editor/doc/act5tb1sa3105.doc Resources California C&D Recycling Tools for Contractors, Local Governments, and Processors http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/condemo/Tools.htm Institute for Local Self Reliance has been a pioneering organization in promoting deconstruction, architectural salvage, and work force development since 1998. ILSR has extensive experience with building material recovery, researching and documenting information on reuse and recycling enterprises, producing and disseminating publications, and familiarity with the region‟s reuse and recycling business and infrastructure. http://www.ilsr.org/recycling/decon/index.html NJDEP Construction, Renovation, Demolition Debris Recovery Plan Model Language – see pages 7 to 9 of document located at the following site: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dshw/recycling/whatsnew/model_waste_ordinance.pdf New Jersey’s Green Home Remodeling Guidelines Version (NJGHRG) 1.0 Released by the Rutgers Center for Green Building in November 2009, The New Jersey Green Home Remodeling Guidelines (NJGHRG) Version 1.0 exemplify ways a homeowner or remodeling professional can incorporate green building practices into common home remodeling projects. The Guidelines comprise a menu of „best practices‟ organized by major building systems, including plenty of references to more technical guides for additional information. Somerset County Green Building Tool Kit- see construction waste management policy (page 24) http://www.scbp.org/member/greenbuildings.html
USEPA’s Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments http://www.epa.gov/region4/recycle/green-building-toolkit.pdf