Construction Site Recycling#
Construction and demolition activities generate 30-40% of the materials landfilled each year from Fort Collins. However, many of these materials could be recycled or reused. Recycling and reusing construction and demolition materials saves landfill space and reduces our community’s greenhouse gas emissions. Successful construction and demolition recycling programs are necessary components in helping the community meet its zero waste and climate goals.
Since 2012, the City of Fort Collins Building Code has required certain construction and demolition projects to recycle specific materials.
Building Code Requirements#
New Construction, Additions and Remodels#
Remodels and additions over 2,500 sq/ft, and all new construction, must recycle the following materials:
- Asphalt, Concrete, and masonry
- Metal
- Wood
- Cardboard
How to Comply#
You can choose to either hire a full-service hauler to collect all trash and recyclables or may haul materials yourself to an appropriate recycling location. Information on local hauling companies, salvage and deconstruction businesses and recycling facilities can be found on the Construction & Demolition Debris Resource Sheet.
Keep all landfill or recycling facility tickets and receipts as the project is underway – you will need to include them with the construction waste management plan.
AT THE START OF THE PROJECT
- Submit your initial Construction Waste Management Plan at time of permit application, listing who will be responsible for hauling each material and where it will be taken.
DURING THE PROJECT
- Post your Construction Waste Management Plan at the job site.
- Implement your Construction Waste Management Plan and ensure all materials are recycled as required.
AT THE END OF THE PROJECT
- To receive a letter of completion it is required that a final Construction Waste Management Plan must be submitted. You will need the following information to complete the Plan:
- Amount of waste disposed
- Location where waste was disposed
- Landfill and recycling disposal facility tickets to be uploaded (required)
- Submit final documentation electronically to environmentalcompliance@fcgov.com
Demolitions#
All demolition projects, excluding interior only demolitions under 1,000 sq/ft, must recycle the following materials:
- Asphalt, concrete, and masonry
- Metal
When possible all remaining materials such as doors, windows, cabinets, fixtures and wood should also be recycled or salvaged.
All materials should be processed to safely remove all asbestos and lead paint contamination.
How to Comply#
You can choose to either hire a full-service hauler to collect all trash and recyclables or may haul materials yourself to an appropriate recycling location. Information on local hauling companies, salvage and deconstruction businesses and recycling facilities can be found on the Construction & Demolition Debris Resource Sheet.
Keep all landfill or recycling facility tickets and receipts as the project is underway – you will need to include them with the construction waste management plan.
AT THE START OF THE PROJECT
- Submit your initial Construction Waste Management Plan at time of permit application, listing who will be responsible for hauling each material and where it will be taken.
DURING THE PROJECT
- Post your Construction Waste Management Plan at the job site.
- Implement your Construction Waste Management Plan and ensure all materials are recycled as required.
AT THE END OF THE PROJECT
- To receive a letter of completion it is required that a final Construction Waste Management Plan must be submitted. You will need the following information to complete the Plan:
- Amount of waste disposed
- Location where waste was disposed
- Landfill and recycling disposal facility tickets to be uploaded (required)
- Submit final documentation electronically to environmentalcompliance@fcgov.com
Roofing#
All structures using asphalt shingles must use Class 4 Impact Resistant Shingles meeting UL2218 certification and they must be installed per the manufacturer's recommended installation.
All roofing permits issued after September 29, 2021, regardless of roofing material used, must include a Construction Waste Management Plan.
- To receive a letter of completion it is required that a Construction Waste Management Plan be submitted electronically. You will need the following information to complete the submittal:
- Amount of waste disposed
- Location where waste was disposed
- Landfill and recycling disposal facility tickets to be uploaded (required)
- Permits issued after September 29, 2021, are not required to submit a Construction Waste Management Plan. The data is now included in the online building permit application.
How to Comply#
You can choose to either hire a full-service hauler to collect all trash and recyclables or may haul materials yourself to an appropriate recycling location. Information on local hauling companies, salvage and deconstruction businesses and recycling facilities can be found on the Construction & Demolition Debris Resource Sheet.
Keep all landfill or recycling facility tickets and receipts as the project is underway – you will need to include them with the construction waste management plan.
When the project is complete and the final inspection has been scheduled, complete the electronic form.
- Enter your building permit number and the form will auto-fill. Verify that the information is correct and make any changes or updates.
- Enter the type of waste.
- Enter the weight of the waste (in pounds)
- Enter the location where the waste was deposited
- Upload the landfill or recycling center ticket or receipt
- Check the box agreeing that the information is correct
- Type your signature
- Submit the form
For questions or concerns, please contact Linda Hardin at 970-416-2701 or environmentalcompliance@fcgov.com.
Best Practices
- Explain the recycling requirements to all employees and subcontractors that will be working on your jobsite and show them where the containers for each material are located.
- Add compliance with your site's recycling plan into contracts with subcontractors.
- Clearly label all containers in both English and Spanish on all sides of the container.
- Co-locate trash and recycling containers to provide easy and equal access to all containers.
- Work closely with your hauler(s) to understand their requirements of what can and cannot be included with each material.
- Avoid mixing trash and recyclables for separation later; instead, use multiple small containers for each material wherever work is being performed, and then empty small containers into large bins when full.
- Regularly inspect dumpsters to ensure only the correct materials are in each container. If materials are placed in the incorrect container, ask the responsible employee(s) or sub-contractor(s) to remove the incorrect materials and place them in the correct container.
Forms and Resources#
FAQs#
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Most likely you will not need all five at once. Concrete will be most prevalent during foundation work, wood most prevalent during framing, and cardboard during the interior finishes, etc. If space is not available for multiple containers, or you are not producing enough of each material to justify a container, consider stock piling the material until you do or self-haul it to a local recycling specialist. Find options in the Construction & Demolition Debris Recycling Resources sheet.
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Environmental compliance inspectors will visit job sites throughout the duration of a project to ensure the requirements are being met and to discuss any issues found with the site superintendent. The hauler will also confirm compliance with the final Construction Waste Management Plan (CWMP) and documentation.
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Failing to follow or submit your CWMP could include penalties of over $3,000 per day of the violation and up to six months in jail. A summons will be issued to the site superintendent if a violation is not corrected after receiving a notice of violation warning.
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Often recycling facilities will either reject or charge extra for loads that contain too many unacceptable materials. Consider hosting a jobsite or tailgate meeting to discuss the instance with your employees and subcontractors. A site with regularly rejected loads will not be considered to be complying with the requirements and could be subject to a violation. Keep track of any rejected loads to include on your final CWMP.
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Any type of wood that is NOT painted or treated should be recycled.
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Yes! Small diameter nails/screws are accepted in your wood recycling.
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Dirt should be kept to a bare minimum. Use caution at concrete wash out pads to avoid contaminating the container with too much dirt.
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Check with your hauler (or the recycling facility themselves if self-hauling) to verify their requirements.