State disposal rules / California
CalRecycle · CALGreen (Title 24, Part 11) §§ 4.408 and 5.408
California rules for construction debris
California does not ban single construction materials from the dumpster; instead the CALGreen building code makes new buildings and demolition projects divert at least 65% of their construction and demolition material from landfill, or keep total disposal under a weight per square foot.
- 1Rule CALGreen
- 2Items named 6
- 3Construction materials 5
- 4Fee pages in state 1
What CalRecycle lists
The 6 entries below are copied from CalRecycle, CALGreen Construction Waste Management Requirements (CalRecycle summary last updated March 10, 2023); 5 of them are construction materials. Construction materials: 5; Batteries, electronics and hazardous items: 1.
| Material or project | Rule |
|---|---|
| New construction and demolition, residential (4.408.1) | divert at least 65% of C&D material |
| Low-rise residential, 3 stories or fewer (4.408.4) | or dispose of no more than 3.4 lb per square foot |
| High-rise residential, 4 stories or more (4.408.4.1) | or dispose of no more than 2 lb per square foot |
| Non-residential new construction and demolition (5.408.1) | divert at least 65%, or dispose of no more than 2 lb per square foot (5.408.1.3) |
| Locally permitted additions and alterations | 65% applies to the added or altered area (301.1.1, 301.3.2) |
| Universal waste on non-residential additions and alterations (5.408.2) | verify proper disposal on additions of 1,000 sq ft or more and alterations of $200,000 or more |
Source: CalRecycle, CALGreen Construction Waste Management Requirements, CALGreen (Title 24, Part 11) §§ 4.408 and 5.408; read 2026-10-21. The agency's current text governs.
How the rule is applied
- Compliance is shown with a construction waste management plan (4.408.2, 5.408.1.1) or by using a waste management company that can document the diversion (4.408.3, 5.408.1.2).
- Demolition-only permits fall outside CALGreen; CalRecycle says jurisdictions should cover their recycling separately.
- Multifamily buildings with 5 or more units and non-residential buildings must also provide space for occupants' recycling (4.410.2, 5.410.1).
What the diversion rate and the weight cap mean for a job
A full 20-yard of mixed construction debris weighs about 9,680 lb at EPA's 484 lb per loose cubic yard. Diverting 65% of it means 6,292 lb has to go to recycling or reuse, leaving at most 3,388 lb for the landfill. Low-rise homes can instead show that total disposal stayed under 3.4 lb per square foot; for high-rise residential and non-residential buildings the figure is 2 lb.
| Home size | Low-rise cap | As mixed C&D | High-rise cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,500 sq ft | 5,100 lb | 11 yd³ (0.5 × 20-yd) | 3,000 lb · 6.2 yd³ |
| 2,000 sq ft | 6,800 lb | 14 yd³ (0.7 × 20-yd) | 4,000 lb · 8.3 yd³ |
| 3,000 sq ft | 10,200 lb | 21 yd³ (1.1 × 20-yd) | 6,000 lb · 12 yd³ |
Disposal fees in California on this site
Kern County charges $89.86 per ton. One 8-ft pickup bed of mixed debris costs $54 there.
Other states: Massachusetts · Vermont · New Hampshire · North Carolina · Wisconsin · Florida. To size the container itself, use the dumpster sizer.
This page summarises CalRecycle's published text as read on 2026-10-21. It is not legal advice; local ordinances, haulers and facilities can be stricter, and the agency's current rule governs.