Fresno Considers C&D Ban At Landfills

Based on a report from a consultant, Fresno County in central California is considering either a landfill ban for C&D materials or a fee-based system added on to construction or demolition permits. The intent is to promote greater recycling of C&D materials, with the consultant’s report reportedly recommending that a landfill ban would be more effective.

A “Construction & Demolition Debris Project Report” prepared for the county reportedly says the county needs to raise its diversion of solid waste from disposal requirement from its current 33 percent to the state-mandated 50 percent. The County Board wanted to see if some type of C&D ordinance to require recycling would help, and the study looked at likely scenarios.

The two examined most closely includes one where C&D generators would be required to divert C&D as a condition of obtaining a building or demolition permit. At the beginning of each project, permittees would indicate the materials likely to be generated as a result of the project. At the conclusion, permittees would be required to submit a C&D recycling report documenting diversion through receipts or weight tags from C&D processing facilities. This program is similar to ones already in place in San Jose and parts of Alameda County in California.

Another scenario recommended by the consultant would have the county ban large commercial loads of C&D from the county-operated American Avenue and Coalinga landfills. C&D generators would be directed to C&D processors operating within the county. Small loads would be exempted from the ban.

“In general, landfill bans are beneficial to established, legitimate recyclers,” remarks William Turley, executive director of the Construction Materials Recycling Association, Lisle, Ill. “Fee-based systems that tack on something to demolition and construction permits also benefit certified C&D recyclers, so either way should help promote recycling,” he adds.

“Regarding a landfill ban, they are correct to be concerned that a lot of the material will just float out of the county,” says Turley. “Reportedly, some if it already is. But this may make the surrounding counties also do the same thing, spreading the recycling requirement further,” he notes.

The county is planning a Feb. 12 meeting with stakeholders at the Central Fresno County Library Branch. More information on the meeting can be obtained from Richard S. Gilbert, the county’s solid waste coordinator, at (559) 262-4259.