Construction and Landscaping

Construction and demolition (C&D) activities generate significant amounts of wood waste. With over 3.4 million tons of wood waste landfilled in 2018, it is roughly 8.6% of the state’s total disposal and the fifth most prevalent material type in California’s overall disposed waste stream.

Repurposing construction debris, including lumber, prevents wasteful decay in landfills where it converts into methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change in California.

Nonhazardous lumber waste can be reused or recycled into new products like reused building materials, mulch, and compost that help conserve our limited water supply and other resources. With about half of urban water used for landscape irrigation in California, large water savings can be gained by efficient landscape design that utilize mulch and compost.

SB 1383 & CALGreen

Construction Waste Diversion

• Jurisdictions are already required to adopt CALGreen, Sections 4.408.1 and 5.408 in its municipal code. Projects requiring local construction permits are to divert from landfills at least 65% of the C&D materials generated at the project site.
• The SB 1383 regulations require jurisdictions to have a mechanism by which they can enforce CALGreen’s 65% C&D debris recovery rate requirement. This ensures the maximum amount of organic waste commingled with C&D debris is recovered from building projects in the state.
• CALGreen applies to various occupancies and building types. Refer to the summary table and FAQ for more information on CALGreen’s waste diversion requirements.

Space for Organics Collection

• Jurisdictions are already required to adopt CALGreen, Sections 4.410.2 and 5.410.1 in its municipal code. It requires newly constructed non-residential buildings, certain non-residential additions and multi-family housing with ≥ 5 units to provide readily accessible areas that serve the entire building for depositing, storage and collection of non-hazardous materials for recycling, including paper, corrugated cardboard and other organic waste. The regulations require that jurisdictions enforce this space allocation guideline to ensure that the maximum amount of organic waste is recovered from multifamily residential and non-residential building occupants.

SB 1383 & MWELO

Soil Amendment, Compost and Mulch

• Jurisdictions are already required to adopt the MWELO, Sections 492.6(a)(3)(B), (C) and (D) in its municipal code. It applies to certain landscape projects as identified in Section 490.1.
• The regulations require jurisdictions to have a mechanism by which to enforce:
  • the incorporation of soil amendments when planting;
  • use of compost for landscape installations with a minimum of four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet and a depth of six inches; and
  • application of a minimum three inch layer of mulch for planting areas.

Post-Consumer Organic Mulch Products

• Jurisdictions are already required to adopt the MWELO, Section 492.6(a)(3)(G) in its municipal code. It instructs covered landscape projects to use organic mulch materials made from recycled or post-consumer goods over inorganic materials or virgin forest products.
• The SB 1383 regulations require that jurisdictions enforce existing requirements regarding the preferential use of recycled and post-consumer organic mulch materials.
• Using recycled and post-consumer compost and mulch materials may be an opportunity for the jurisdiction to help meet its SB 1383 procurement target. For example, a landscaper could act as a direct service provider and procure compost and mulch on behalf of the jurisdiction, provided all procurement requirements are met. For more information on procurement and product eligibility, visit the Procurement.