ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION REFORM COMMITTEE Monday June 9th, 2025 11:00 AM Cepeda Branch Library 651 N Pleasant Valley Rd, Austin, TX 78702 CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Ian Steyaert (Chair); Amanda Masino; and Gerald Acuna CALL TO ORDER AGENDA PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Meeting minutes; August 25th, 2021 STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing: Overview of C&D Qualified Processor Requirements and enforcement update DISCUSSION 3. Discussion: Meeting schedule for 2025 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 4 days before the meeting date. Please call Cahill Ordones at 512-978-1370 Austin Resource Recovery, or email cahill.ordones@austintexas.gov, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Construction and Demolition Reform Committee, please contact Cahill Ordones at cahill.ordones@austintexas.gov.
Construction & Demolition Recycling Ordinance Qualified Processors Background • C&D made up 23% of waste disposed in Texas MSW landfills in 2023 (TCEQ, 2023). • In 2009, the City of Austin adopted the Zero Waste Strategic Plan. • City-wide Zero Waste goal to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by 90% by 2040. • Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) • Developed first rating system in the U.S. for evaluating sustainability of buildings in 1991. • Set diversion requirements for construction projects many years before the C&D Recycling Ordinance. Requirements Affected projects: 1. Beginning October 1, 2016, construction projects that exceed 5,000 square feet of new, added, or remodeled floor area; and 2. Beginning October 1, 2019, commercial and multifamily projects that require a demolition permit [§ 25-11-39(C)]. Project requirements: 1. May not dispose more than 2.5 pounds of materials per square foot of the project OR Shall divert a minimum of 50 percent of materials generated by the project for beneficial use [§ 15-6-150(B)]. 2. Requirements cont. A permittee shall provide the department a report at the same time it requests final inspections [§ 15-6-153(A)]. A report must include: 1. The quantity of materials delivered directly to a disposal facility (landfilled); and 2. The quantity delivered to a processor or end-user and diverted for beneficial use [§ 15-6-153(B)]. Metrics Year of Final Inspection 2025 292 40% 34% Affected Projects Submission Rate Compliance Rate 2024 708 68% 59% Affected Projects Submission Rate Compliance Rate 2023 752 81% 72% Affected Projects Submission Rate Compliance Rate As of May 20th, 2025. Compliance Efforts • Ordinance acknowledgment in permit applications • Notifications • Letters • Automated emails • C&D marketing campaign (June-August) • Billboards • Radio • Bus ads • Print ads • Digital ads Enforcement • Since 2023, we have initiated ~500 C&D compliance cases • Voluntary Compliance • Most effective use of staff resources and for attaining compliance • 60% of cases voluntarily submitted a diversion report • Non-compliance • A permittee that fails to meet requirements commits a Class C misdemeanor [§ 15-6-170] Qualified Processors (QPs) Purpose: • Provide a neutral, 3rd party to certify diversion • Decrease paperwork for general contractors QPs have a validated average diversion rate (ADR) that can be applied to the materials they process. i.e., Materials diverted by QP = tons delivered x ADR A permittee may deliver materials to a qualified processor to …
