Reuse and Recycling Plans for Demolition Permits

If you are seeking a demolition permit, you must have a Reuse and Recycling Plan approved by the Recycling Coordinator before the permit will be issued.

Please email plans to streets@cityofmadison.com.

Upon completion of the project, you must also complete and submit a Compliance Report that shows you have followed through with the plan.

Sample Reuse and Recycling Plan

Required Parts of the Reuse and Recycling Plan

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Basic Information

Your plan should have the following:

Location of the project
Contact information for the project
Information on the scope of the project, the stated recycling goals to meet the city's requirement that all demolition projects recycle or reuse at least 70% of all demolition debris (as stated in MGO 10.185).
List of material anticipated to be generated from the demolition.
Explanation about how the Reuse and Recycling plan you are submitting will be fulfilled at the work site.

Reuse Section

All plans must have section explaining how materials will be removed from the building for reuse prior to demolition.

You must allow sufficient time to allow reuse activities to take place. Most reuse/deconstruction places should be contacted at minimum two weeks before demolition is set to begin to allow them time to gather staff and perform their work and reclaim usable materials.

Most contractors choose to work with Dane County Habitat for Humanity to remove and reuse materials. Items like doors, cabinets, and many other items are often able to be salvaged. Even if a project appears to have few reusable items, contacting Habitat for Humanity is wise. Too often people undervalue reusable items and furnishings.

Deconstruction, INC. is a local for-profit company that also works with architectural salvage and similar materials.

Other donation options for usable items may exist locally, too.

In your plan, you must state who you are working with and what items are being reclaimed for reuse.

Appliance and Metal Recycling

State in your plan where you will be hauling the metals and appliances generated by your project.

Appliances are banned from landfills by state statute and local ordinances.

If you are handling items that contain CFCs, be sure you are working with an appropriately licensed vendor.

Other metal items from your project could be duct work, rain gutters, storm windows, and many other metal items.

Mercury Recovery / Recycling

State in your plan where you are taking items that contain mercury.

This includes thermostats and fluorescent lights.

Mercury is hazardous, and items that have it are banned from landfills.

Asphalt, Concrete, Bricks, Etc.

State in your plan how you are handling this material, and where it will be processed.

Shingle Recycling

State in your plan where you will be hauling shingles for recycling.

These are banned from the Dane County Landfill.

Mixed Loads for Recycling

If you will be utilizing a dumpster service and a processor that allows you to put a mixture of items into the container for recycling and sorting, state what materials will be in the mixed load dumpster, and where the material will be processed.

The "mixed load" can include other required elements for this plan. You do not need to include a specific section detailing that particular item if it is included with this mixed load.

For example, if you can include clean lumber into the mixed load dumpster you are using then state in the plan that mixed load will include clean lumber along with the other material that will be included for recycling.