Description
King County codes were established in 2015 to direct commingled recyclable construction & demolition (C&D) materials to designated C&D recycling facilities and non-recyclable C&D materials to designated C&D waste transfer stations. However, not all C&D materials that could be recycled or reused are being separated, resulting in the landfilling (at Cedar Hills Landfill and elsewhere) of materials that have value. One primary reason that so many materials with value are not recovered is due to the complexities of separating and cleaning the materials once they are commingled and contaminated. The best way to address this issue is through source separation. In accordance with State and County codes, King County has an important role in enforcing jobsite source separation of recyclable C&D materials from nonrecyclable C&D materials in unincorporated King County. Additional incentives and enforcement are needed to ensure cleaner material streams and better access to recycling and reuse of materials, where possible. King County is committed to also working with other jurisdictions to support the implementation of similar C&D source separation programs and enforcement protocols and requirements.