Construction recycling rules take effect in Texas capital

The first stage of the Austin, Texas, Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance has taken effect. In November 2015, the Austin City Council approved the ordinance and administrative rules designed to increase reuse and recycling of materials from construction and demolition projects. The ordinance is modeled after the city’s Green Building efforts and is consistent with the city's zero-waste goal and the Austin Resource Recovery Master Plan.

The ordinance, which took effect Oct. 1, 2016, requires at least 50 percent of unused materials from construction projects that are 5,000 square feet or larger to be recycled, reused or salvaged.

Additionally, construction contractors only are allowed throw away 2.5 pounds of trash per square foot of a project's floor space.

The ordinance does not currently apply to demolition projects. Beginning Oct. 1, 2019, commercial demolition projects of all sizes also will have to meet the ordinance requirements.

More information on the new ordinance is available at austintexas.gov/cd.