ZERO WASTE ADVISORY COMMISSION CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION REFORM COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2026, AT 11:00 A.M. CEPEDA BRANCH LIBRARY 651 N PLEASANT VALLEY RD AUSTIN, TEXAS 78702 Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Elizabeth Nelson, 512-974-6492, Elizabeth.Nelson@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Ian Steyaert, Chair; Gerard Acuna; and Seth Whaland AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 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. Approve the minutes of the Zero Waste Advisory Commission Construction and Demolition Reform Committee meeting on March 4, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing on options for proposed changes to City Code and the department’s administrative rules for the Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance, including changes to the qualified processor program. Presentation by Elizabeth Nelson, Planner Principal, Austin Resource Recovery. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Elizabeth Nelson at Austin Resource Recovery Department, at 512-974-6492 or Elizabeth.Nelson@austintexas.gov, to request service or for additional information. For more information on the Zero Waste Advisory Commission, please contact Gustavo Valle at 512-974-4359 or Gustavo.Valle@austintexas.gov.
ZWAC C&D Committee Austin Resource Recovery | 6/24/2026 Agenda 1. Review three staff proposed options 2. Review residual vs average diversion rate audit 3. Review common changes to Code and Rules for options 1 and 2 2 Policy Change Options Options Staff propose three options for mixed-waste C&D processing: OPTION 1 Residuals Threshold Verified residual audit caps what gets landfilled (≤10% of listed materials, TBD) OPTION 2 No-minimum ADR Verified average diversion rate, but no minimum diversion to hit OPTION 3 Eliminate QP Program No Qualified Processor; each project submits weight tickets • All projects use a Qualified • All projects use a Qualified Processor (QP) • Replace registered evaluators with a City-contracted auditor • Annual City audit of mixed- • waste C&D facility (City pays) Facilities post quarterly ADR + annual audit results online Processor (QP) • Replace registered evaluators with a City-contracted auditor • Annual City audit of mixed- • waste C&D facility (City pays) Facilities post quarterly ADR + annual audit results online 4 Definitions Review • AVERAGE DIVERSION RATE means the percentage of all inbound commingled material over a period of time that a facility diverts for beneficial use — Code • RESIDUAL means the quantity of non-recyclable material left over at the end of a recycling process; often expressed as a percentage (i.e. amount of material remaining after the resource recovery process, divided by the total amount of materials processed) — Rules • PROJECT DISPOSAL RATE means the total pounds of material generated by a project and disposed per square foot of the project — Code • PROJECT DIVERSION RATE means the percentage of the materials generated by the project and diverted for beneficial use onsite or offsite — Code 5 What is a residual audit? ▪ A sampling of what a mixed C&D processing facility sends to the landfill. ▪ City will create a list of materials that are locally recyclable based on market conditions ▪ No more than 10% (by weight) of the residual material in all residual streams can include listed materials (to be determined) ▪ Each material will have size thresholds so that very small materials won’t count ▪ Materials will be audited before any shredding or grinding activity ▪ If sampling reveals that the processor is not meeting requirements, there is opportunity to come back into compliance with an additional sampling event at the processor’s expense. OPTION 1 - Residuals …
C&D Committee — Policy Options Decision Current Option 1 – Residuals Threshold preferred Option 2 – No-Minimum ADR Option 3 – Eliminate QP Must projects use a qualified processor (QP)? Not required YES Source separated facilities do not need to be qualified YES Source separated facilities do not need to be qualified NO QP program eliminated Type of audit and auditor QP Reporting requirements Average diversion rate* Registered evaluator or RCI Residuals Threshold* City-contractor Average diversion rate (ADR)* City-contractor Report ADR every six months. Report also includes: types of materials recovered, beneficial uses for the materials One annual validated residual audit +++ Quarterly unverified ADR sent by facility, posted on dept website One annual validated ADR audit +++ Quarterly unverified ADR sent by facility, posted on dept website None Projects submit weight tickets None Who pays for the audits? QP Annual Residual audit – City Subsequent, if failed, QP Annual ADR audit – City Subsequent, if failed, QP No Audit 1. Dept. suspends registration 2. QP sent notice of suspension 3. QP given time to correct violation 4. If not corrected, no longer a QP. QP may file appeal within 20 days after suspension. 1. Notice from dept. identifying 1. Notice from dept. identifying No audit to fail violation violation 2. 90 days to get in compliance via follow-up audit at facility’s expense or correction of other violations not requiring an audit 2. 90 days to get in compliance via follow-up audit at facility’s expense or correction of other violations not requiring an audit 3. Fail to correct violation, 3. Fail to correct violation, suspend QPs registration in accordance with code 15-6- 164 suspend QPs registration in accordance with code 15-6- 164 NO YES — ≤10%, materials TBD NO NO If a facility fails audit Residuals Threshold? * In addition to audit, must meet Minimum requirements (rules/code): includes things like compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations, ability to weigh materials, supplying customers with documentation and disposition of diverted materials C&D Committee — Option Strengths and Tradeoffs Current Option 1 – Residuals Threshold preferred Option 2 – No-Minimum ADR Option 3 – Eliminate QP Strengths - Flexibility for facilities to choose whether to register as QP - Projects using QP have reduced reporting burden - Transparency for projects to view facility residuals and ADR on Department’s website - Transparency for projects to view all facilities’ ADR on Department’s website …
