Construction and demolition recycling requirements

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Approximately 22 percent of the state's waste stream is comprised of construction and demolition debris. Menlo Park's construction and demolition ordinance reduces the city's contribution of this debris to local landfills.

Ordinance recycling requirements

State mandate requires 65 percent of the project's anticipated debris must be diverted:

  • Demolition (typical): 40 pounds per square foot
  • Demolition with tile roof: 47 pounds per square foot
  • New construction: 4 pounds per square foot
  • Wood only (such as deck): 2 pounds per square foot

Up to 35 percent of this debris can be inerts (concrete and asphalt). Separate calculations for demolition and construction portions of an applicable project.

Penalty system

Pursuant to State Law, the City of Menlo Park requires 65 percent of all construction and demolition (C&D) debris to be diverted from the landfill through salvage or recycling. The City uses Green Halo Systems to review your Waste Management Plan. Projects in non-compliance are subject to a fine of $1 per square foot that meet the minimum threshold of at least 1,000 square feet. This means that if the project does not meet its 65 percent diversion rate, it will be charged $1.00 per square foot of the project’s referenced square feet. Register projects for online waste diversion tracking.

Register your project

Submit original facility weight tags with the correct Menlo Park project site as the origin. Ensure that facility tags do not say MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) or garbage. No recycling credit will be provided for these tags. Please keep weight tags from construction portion of the job separate from demolition portion to avoid confusion and delay.

All analysis of fines are calculated prior to final inspection. This means that projects cannot receive their final inspection (also known as "occupancy") until the C&D process is cleared or complete.

If you have an existing permit that was issued under the previous deposit/refund system, please contact us.

FAQs

Why does my demolition project have a seven day waiting period between the day that the demolition permit is issued and the date that demolition work can begin?

The waiting period is to encourage property owners and contractors to salvage materials from the job site. Salvaging is the controlled removal of reusable materials from C&D debris, for the purpose of donation or reuse.

Where can I find information on where to recycle construction debris?

A list of local Recycling Certification Institute (RCI) certified facilities is available online at greenhalosystems.com or recyclingcertification.org. The San Mateo County “Construction, Deconstruction, and Demolition Information” is also available in the City Hall lobby. Note: Only weight tags from Recycling Certification Institute (RCI) certified facilities are accepted by the City.

Do the locations suggested on the Green Halo System website or any City of Menlo Park documents provide a guarantee acceptable recycling facility will meet minimum diversion requirements?

No, the applicant must verify each facility’s reported recycling rates available at greenhalosystems.com or recyclingcertification.org.

A sub-contractor was used for the construction/demolition job. The contractor needs the original tags for tax purposes. How can I still receive recycling credit for the recycled material?

Only the images of the original tags need to be uploaded to the City of Menlo Park via Green Halo Systems (menlopark.wastetracking.com) to fulfill the Ordinance requirements. The original tags may be retained by the sub-contractor for tax purposes.

What are the weight tag requirements?

Weight tags accepted by the City of Menlo Park require the following:

  • Uploaded images must be of the original weight tags issued by Recycling Certification Institute (RCI) certified facility (greenhalosystems.com or recyclingcertification.org).
  • All weight tag images must be legible. The facility, tag number, weight, unit, and city of origin must all be readable.
  • Each weight tag must list Menlo Park as the city of origin. 
  • The material weight with units must be listed on each tag. 
  • Tags submitted for salvage and reuse must be included material type, usage, facility (if applicable) and weight.
  • A separate weight tags is required for each job site. To receive recycling credit, debris from separate project addresses cannot be delivered to the recycling facility in the same truck. 
  • Weight tags can only be submitted once. The same weight tag cannot be submitted for multiple project addresses or for both the construction and demolition portions of a project at a single address. 
  • Facility tags (and deposit request forms) must be submitted separately for each deposit (this includes construction and demolition portions of a project at a single address).
  • Recycling Certification Institute (RCI) certified facilities may not use material for alternative daily cover (ADC).

It is the responsibility of the requestor to obtain the proper documentation from the salvage or recycling facility. Check your weight tags before leaving the facility. If any information is incorrect ask the facility weight master to issue a revised weight tag with the correct information.

What is the deadline for submission of the deposit refund request form?

  • Demolition projects: The requestor must submit the required documentation within 60 days of completion of the demolition portion of the project.
  • Construction projects: The requestor must submit the required documentation before final inspection.

Deposits will be forfeited if the applicant does not submit the required forms and proper documentation within the timelines specified.

Contact us

Green Halo Systems customer support

Website

888-525-1301, Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

 

 

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