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    Construction and demolition waste makes up approximately 17.5 percent of Pennsylvania's municipal waste stream. In 2005, Pennsylvania disposed over 2.25 million tons of C&D waste in municipal and C&D landfills.

    The primary sources of C&D waste are Construction, Renovation and Demolition.

    Definition 271.1 Construction/demolition waste — Solid waste resulting from the construction or demolition of buildings and other structures, including, but not limited to, wood, plaster, metals, asphaltic substances, bricks, block and unsegregated concrete. The term does not include the following if they are separate from other waste and are used as clean fill:

    1. Uncontaminated soil, rock, stone, gravel, brick and block, concrete and used asphalt; and
    2. Waste from land clearing, grubbing and excavation, including trees, brush, stumps and vegetative material.

    Management of Construction and Demolition Waste

    Salvaging - By definition, materials salvaged for use in their intended function are not wastes. Examples include: bathroom fixtures, ceiling panels, doors, flooring, lighting fixtures, windows, etc.

    Source separated recyclable materials are also not wastes. For construction, renovation and demolition activities this includes: cardboard, glass, metals, paper and plastics.

    C & D Salvaged Material Outlets

    Management as Clean Fill - 271.101

    Permit by Rule - 271.103

    • Mechanical processing facility. A facility for the processing of uncontaminated rock, stone, gravel, brick, block and concrete from construction/demolition activities, individually or in combination, by mechanical or manual sizing or by mechanical or manual separation for prompt reuse shall be deemed to have a municipal waste processing permit-by-rule if it meets the requirements of subsections (a)—(c) and submits a written notice to the department that includes the name, address and telephone number of the facility, the individual responsible for operating the facility and a brief description of the waste and the facility. The facility shall be onsite or process less than 50 tons or 45 metric tons per day, and may not operate in violation of any State, county or municipal waste management plan.

    Processing and Beneficial Use

    General Permits - General permits may be issued on a regional or statewide basis for C&D processing and beneficial use. The processing facilities and the waste to be processed in the category must be substantially similar. Persons may be authorized to operate under an existing general permit via a registration or determination of applicability. Fees include:

    • general permit - $1,000
    • registration - $250
    • determination of applicability - $500.
    • General Permit Forms

    Special Handling C&D Wastes

    Other Resources