Aspen adopts construction-and-demolition debris diversion ordinance with 50% minimum diversion

After a two-readings presentation and public comment, the Aspen City Council adopted Ordinance 21, creating Chapter 29.02 of the municipal code to require diversion of locally salvageable construction and demolition (C&D) materials for projects meeting the proposed major-impact threshold (projects with more than 2,000 square feet of disturbance). Staff said C&D accounts for about 53% of the community's waste stream and that locally salvageable materials present an opportunity to reduce landfill emissions and costs.

Ainsley Bridal Smith, the city's waste diversion and recycling program administrator, told council staff proposed a 50% minimum diversion standard (noting Pitkin County's program has averaged 66% diversion on permitted projects) and a deposit-and-penalty approach to encourage compliance. She said examples in the memo show tipping fees for unsorted loads at $245 per ton and recycling disposal fees ranging $15'$50 per ton, which can offset deconstruction costs. The council discussed funding an FTE to administer the program using GreenHalo tracking; staff indicated that funding would come from the general fund and that a request for a full-time position would come in the spring supplemental budget. On a roll call the ordinance passed 4'1 (Councillor Guth voted No).