The State of California requires that all cities recycle 50% of their waste that has been going to landfills. As waste is measured by weight, construction and demolition or C & D materials are a significant part of the waste stream. Recycling or reusing C & D from job sites can often reduce project costs and create jobs, as well as benefit the environment and meet State requirements.
The City of Torrance now requires that all demolition projects and construction or remodeling projects valued at $100,000 or more must recycle or reuse at least 50% of the materials that leave the project site. A Waste Management Plan (WMP) form is part of the permit process for projects that meet these criteria. The WMP form is available at the permit counter or a downloadable form is available that allows you to enter data electronically by clicking on the following link:
Waste Management Plan Form
Step 1 - when applying for the permit, you must fill out on the WMP form an estimate of the amount of waste that will be generated by the project, what types of materials are anticipated, that at least 50% will be recycled or reused and the facility or company that will assist with the recycling or reuse.
Step 2 - collect and keep all receipts and records of the disposal, recycling, donations, and reuse of the materials from your project.
Step 3 - complete the rest of the WMP form by listing the actual disposal and recycling that occurred and attached the receipts and other documents as back up. This will be required before your project can be finaled.
Failure to fulfill the requirements of the WMP process will result in penalties of $5000 for construction projects and $10,000 for demolition projects, as per the Torrance Municipal Code.
If you have questions about the recycling program, please contact the Public Works Department at 1-310-781-6900. For other permit questions, please contact the Building and Safety Department at 1-310-618-5910.
