Demolition Recycling Requirements

Review recycling requirements for demolition and new construction projects.

Demolition Waste Disposal and Recycling Bylaw 19453

The City of Surrey has introduced a new Demolition Waste Disposal and Recycling Bylaw. This bylaw is to ensure that a minimum of 70% of demolition materials are taken to a licensed recycling facility or reused.

Effective September 1, 2018, demolition applications must include a:

The waste disposal and recycling services plan includes an inventory and the estimated weight of the recyclable material present at your demolition site. The compliance report will be used to verify your waste diversion percentage.

Your $5,000 waste diversion deposit will be returned in full when 70 per cent or more of your demolition and construction waste is diverted from the landfill. If less than 70 per cent of your waste is diverted, the refund will be adjusted on a sliding scale based on the diversion achieved.

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Apply for your Demolition Permit and submit all applicable fees and deposits.
  2. Complete the Waste Disposal and Recycling Services Plan and send it to demowasteplan@surrey.ca or fax: 604-591-7836. To estimate the amount of material generated by your demolition, refer to Metro Vancouver’s Demolition Waste Generation Rate Calculator.
  3. During demolition, collect and file all receipts from recycling and disposal facilities to track volumes of waste generated.
  4. Complete the Compliance Report, including copies of receipts from all recycling and disposal facilities or signed forms from all salvagers for material reuse, and submit to demowasteplan@surrey.ca or fax: 604-591-7836.
  5. During new construction, implement a waste management plan to maximize diversion of waste and recyclable material through salvage, reuse and recycling. Separate waste and recyclable material, sending residual waste to a disposal facility, and recyclable material to a recycling facility or reuse it for a different application or project.

Recycling & Waste Disposal

Whether you're ripping out your old kitchen or demolishing existing buildings by knocking them down, all recyclable construction materials and site waste must be taken to an approved recycling or disposal facility.

Consider reusing materials to reduce waste and save costs. Common deconstruction and salvage materials include heavy timbers, electrical equipment, siding, etc.

Recyclable Materials

  • Appliances
  • Architectural detail elements (decorative trim, finials, railings, etc.)
  • Asphalt
  • Asphalt roofing shingles
  • Bricks, clocks, ceramic tile
  • Cabinetry
  • Cardboard
  • Concrete
  • Doors
  • Drywall
  • Fixtures and hardware (lighting, plumbing, bathtubs, sinks, doorknobs, etc.)
  • Glass
  • Glass windows in frames
  • Green waste (shrubs, trees, sod, etc.)
  • Metal (steel, aluminum, coppers, brass, etc.)
  • Metal – cable and wiring
  • Metal – window frames
  • Paper
  • Plastic – ridged (buckets, pails, etc.)
  • Plastic – soft (wrapping, bags, etc.)
  • Wood – structural (including pallets)
  • Wood – plywood, particle board, OSB, etc.
  • Wood – shingles/siding (shakes, etc.)
  • Wood – flooring

To find local Recycling Depots that accept demolition materials for recycling and disposal, please visit Metro Vancouver Recycles.

Any hazardous waste must be identified, properly removed, and disposed of by a qualified hazardous materials abatement contractor and managed in accordance with WorkSafe BC.

Benefits of Construction Waste Diversion & Recycling

Reduced environmental impact

Through waste reduction and more efficient use of resources, you will be reducing the impact from your project on the environment by:

  • Conserving natural resources
  • Reducing consumption of energy and water and creating less air pollution, greenhouse gases and solid waste when extracting, transporting and manufacturing virgin materials

Improved savings

Tipping fees for separated recyclables are considerably lower than mixed waste loads. In addition, recycling cardboard and scrap metal should generate revenue. Over the course of a project, these savings can be quite significant.

Enhanced business opportunities

If you are a contractor, achieving high construction waste diversion rates provides a distinct marketing advantage as a growing number of customers are looking for companies using environmentally responsible practices. In addition, companies seeking environmental awards and certification under green building rating systems require an effective construction waste management plan.

For more information, view the Demolition and Construction Waste Brochure.