Adopt a construction and demolition (C&D) ordinance governing demolition permits that requires a level of recycling and reuse for building materials and soil/land-clearing debris.
Best Practice of this action
Rating Guideline
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Resources
Resources:
- The MN Pollution Control Agency's construction and demolition waste web page provides alternatives to disposal - deconstruction, salvage and reuse, moving buildings, recycling, and details on hazardous waste considerations.
- See this Building Material Reuse and Deconstruction GreenStep Flyer to share with building owners, community members, and contractors.
- NOTE: RETAP member Sandy Gunderson is currently available for free 1-on-1 assistance!
- Currently, only 22% of C&D waste is reused or recycled. Encouraging equitable and circular construction practices that retain resources within the system and optimize their use is a significant opportunity to reduce global resource pressure and GHG emissions while supporting local economies. The Material Reuse Handbook (C40 Cities, 2026), is rich with actions communities can take for a more sustainable building material circular economy.
- Visit the Reuse Ecosystem Map on the All for Reuse website to find deconstruction and salvage organizations in your area.
- See also MPCA's Best Management Practices for the Off-Site Reuse of Excess Fill from Development Sites for guidance in higher uses of soil/debris from a demolition/deconstruction site.
- Find example local government climate action plans that address materials management and waste (EPA, 2023).
Ordinances:
- Reaching at least 70% recycled/diverted waste can easily be achieved with concrete from a house's foundation, sidewalk, driveway.
- How to Develop Deconstruction Policies and a list of deconstruction ordinances in place (Build Reuse)
- Cities using the State of Minnesota's B3 green building guidelines will find performance criteria, compliance tools and resources for minimizing construction and demolition waste.
- See other model ordinances for recycle, salvage and reuse building materials.
- Better Futures Minnesota is a social enterprise pioneering building deconstruction, which becomes more financially viable when a city adopts one or more C&D/deconstruction policy options.
- Portland, Oregon's first-in-the-nation deconstruction ordinance.
- Green demolition certification a city could modify and adopt, developed by G. Bradley Guy, a national leader in this field.
Incentives:
- County solid waste management funds (SCORE money) could be used to help private developments comply with a local ordinance.
- Deconstruction policies and programs (Build Reuse)
Order Number
8
Action Type
Finite