Construction & Demolition

Why is there a recycling ordinance? 

The city adopted a Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Program Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 6.09) to help comply with the California Green Building Standard Code and Waste Management Act recycling requirements. State Law requires that construction and demolition projects divert 65% diversion of all non-hazardous construction materials from landfills. This program includes a requirement for diversion plans and diversion reporting, that will assist the city in monitoring and obtaining compliance. The majority of construction debris can be reused or recycled, conserving natural resources and saving valuable landfill space.

What is Construction & Demolition (C&D) Debris?

Common C&D materials are non-hazardous waste that include lumber, drywall, metals, masonry (brick, concrete, etc.), carpet, plastic, pipe rocks, dirt, paper, cardboard, or green waste related to land development.

How To Comply

• Step 1: When applying for a Building Permit or submitting plans at the Building Counter, it will be determined if a Construction Waste Management Plan is required.
• Step 2: Complete and submit the Construction Waste Management Plan before any Building permits have been issued. For demolition  projects, building permits will not be issued until all documents and records are received and reviewed by the city for compliance with the Waste Management Plan. For construction projects, an inspection will occur before the final inspection. During these inspections, documents and records will be reviewed and approved for compliance before project sign off.

Identify which authorized recycling/transfer facility you will be using. 

Options for Recycling & Disposal:

1. Order a roll off bin through city's exclusive hauler Republic Services OR
2. Self Haul
   • When ordering your bin from Republic Services "Roll Off Bin" service, it must be specified as "Construction Bin"

• Step 3: Every time construction and demolition waste is hauled to an authorized location, you will receive a weight ticket(s). SAVE ALL WEIGHT TICKET(S) FOR THE DURATION OF THE PROJECT

• Step 4: Submit to the city only the weight ticket(s) indicating C&D and/or CDP a Diversion Report for review.
• Step 5: All projects will be signed off once all weight tickets demonstrate compliance and include the following information:
  • Information about the facility
  • Tonnage Amounts
  • Source/Origin - Fountain Valley (Note: Do not co-mingle with construction debris from other cities/sites)
  • Appropriate coding to indicate that the material was properly recycling as construction and demolition debris - It is incumbent upon the Contractor/Owner to tell the weight master/scalehouse attendant at waste processing facility to process waste as "Construction & Demolition", not Greenwaste or MSW/Trash and review tickets prior to leaving facility to ensure city receives diversion.

Contractor/Owner is responsible for thoroughly reviewing waste ticket(s) prior to submittal to the city. No correction or resubmittal of waste tickets is allowed. All decision are final. Your project will not receive a final sign off if you don't show your weight tickets during the final inspections. 

Waste Management Plan (English)

Waste Management Plan (Vietnamese)

CalRecycle