Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling

Florida has a MSW (municipal solid waste) recycling goal that includes C&D (construction and demolition) debris. Construction and Demolition Debris (link to 62-701.200(24) accounts for almost 25 percent of Florida's total MSW stream. A wide range of these materials can be recovered and reused or recycled into new products.

C&D Debris Recycling and Disposal is tracked by the DEP through annual reports from counties and permitted C&D facilities statewide in accordance with Florida Administrative Code rule 62-701.730(12). Debris recycled and disposed must be reported in tons by county of origin via the Florida DEP Business Portal. A cubic-yards-to-tons conversion formula is useful to assist facilities without scales in fulfilling this reporting requirement.

The definition of construction and demolition debris is found in Section 62-701.200(24), Florida Administrative Code. It reads as follows:

25) "Construction and demolition debris" means discarded materials generally considered to be not water soluble and non-hazardous in nature, including but not limited to steel, glass, brick, concrete, asphalt material, pipe, gypsum wallboard, and lumber, from the construction or destruction of a structure as part of a construction or demolition project or from the renovation of a structure, including such debris from construction of structures at a site remote from the construction or demolition project site. The term includes rocks, soils, tree remains, trees, and other vegetative matter which normally results from land clearing or land development operations for a construction project; clean cardboard, paper, plastic, wood, and metal scraps from a construction project; effective January 1, 1997, except as provided in Section 403.707(13)(j), F.S., unpainted, non-treated wood scraps from facilities manufacturing materials used for construction of structures or their components and unpainted, non-treated wood pallets provided the wood scraps and pallets are separated from other solid waste where generated and the generator of such wood scraps or pallets implements reasonable practices of the generating industry to minimize the commingling of wood scraps or pallets with other solid waste; and the minimum amounts of other nonhazardous wastes that are generated at construction or demolition projects, provided such amounts are consistent with best management practices of the construction and demolition industries. Mixing of construction and demolition debris with other types of solid waste will cause it to be classified as other than construction and demolition debris.

Reporting

• Florida DEP Business Portal - DEP designated reporting format.
• Reporting Form - use this form to get an idea of what has to be reported.
• Certification of Economic Feasibility to Process C&D Debris Prior to Disposal Form - This form should be completed on an annual basis and retained for your records.

For questions or a list of Florida construction and demolition facilities, contact Suzanne Boroff.

Resources

• Summary of C&D Recycling Facility Regulations 
• C&D Recycling Options and Tips
• C&D Recycling Magazine
• CARE (Carpet America Recovery Effort)
• University of Florida Center for Construction and Environment
• Hinkley Center for Solid and Hazardous Waste Management