Construction & Demolition Waste Recovery:
Processing, Recycling, Burning and Transport

Construction and demolition (C & D) waste is "solid waste resulting from the construction, demolition or razing of buildings, roads and other structures" (s. NR 500.03(50), Wis. Adm. Code). C& D waste recovery operations are regulated in two ways: as C& D processing facilities, or as C& D recycling facilities.

C& D Processing

A C& D processing facility can accept mixed recyclable and non-recyclable C& D waste for sorting. These facilities must follow siting, performance and license requirements in s. NR 502.08. Construction of facility improvements and C& D waste acceptance cannot begin until a license is obtained. (A business generating C& D waste at a construction or demolition site, and separating recyclable and non-recyclable waste at that site, isn't solid waste processing facility.)

C& D Recycling

A C& D recycling facility can accept only clean separate waste components, such as textiles, clean wood, glass, rubber, pavement and plastics, not mixed with each other or other wastes, for sale or use for recycling. C& D recycling is exempt under s. NR 502.08(2)(f) and doesn't require a solid waste processing facility permit or operating license, but must be operated in a nuisance free, environmentally safe manner, & must comply with s. 502.04(1) performance standards.

C& D Waste Burning

A facility which burns C& D wastes may be regulated in a variety of different ways, depending on the specific operation:
  • Woodburning facility rules (s. 502.11) regulate open burning of clean wood (unpainted, untreated wood that doesn't contain glues, adhesives, nails or other such contaminants).
  • Municipal waste combustor facility rules (s. NR 502.13) regulate burning of municipal solid waste (MSW) which includes waste from households, and waste from businesses or institutions which do not include either hazardous waste or process waste.
  • Incinerator facility rules (s. NR 502.09) regulate enclosed burning of solid wastes, other than MSW. Exemptions from these rules include:
    • Facilities which burn solid waste (other than MSW), where the solid waste is less than 30% of the heat input, are not regulated as incinerators.
    • Facilities which burn only clean wood in an enclosed boiler are exempt under s. NR 502.09(2)(b) from most solid waste rules, except that the ash must be properly tested and disposed in accordance with s. NR 502.09(6) and (5)(n).
  • Burning operations may be regulated by the DNR's Air Management Rules.

C& D Waste Transprot

A solid waste collection and transportation service license is required to transport C& D waste in Wisconsin, except that transportation of salvageable C& D materials for recycling is exempt under s. NR 502.06 (2) (a) from the transportation license requirements.

More Information

  • For more information about construction and demolition waste recovery, contact your nearest DNR office.
  • For more information about air permits, contact Steve Dunn, 608-26 - or Keith Pierce, 608-266-0572.
  • Copies of DNR rules can be purchased from the Department of Administration's Document Sales at 608-266-3358.

Written by Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources, Bureau of Waste Management - February 1997

Asbestos Program || Air Management

Last Review Date: September 18, 2006
Next Review Date: September 18, 2007
Last Revised: Tuesday January 16 2007