Construction and Demolition Recycling

What is CDDD?

CDDD is the City of San José’s Construction & Demolition Diversion Deposit Program. About 30% of the waste that goes to landfills is construction and demolition (C&D) debris. More than 100,000 tons of this material can be recovered for other uses each year!

CDDD is San José’s incentive program to encourage the recovery of C&D debris. The City of San José will collect a deposit and fully refund it if the C&D debris is diverted from burial in the landfill.

Three Easy Steps

1. Pay Your Deposit
2. Recover/Recycle Your C&D Debris
3. Apply For a CDDD Refund

Pay Your Deposit

When you apply for a project permit, the City will assess a deposit based on the square footage and type of project you plan to undertake. The amount of your deposit is listed on your permit receipt.

Recover/Recycle Your C&D Debris

Before starting your demolition, construction, or remodeling project, determine how you will manage your construction and demolition debris and any excess building materials. There are three options to consider:

1. Materials can be taken to a CDDD-Certified Facility for recovery/recycling.
2. Materials can be re-used or donated.
3. A combination approach: some materials can be taken to a CDDD-Certified Facility for recovery/recycling and other materials can be re-used or donated.

Recovering or recycling your C&D debris means that you have reduced the amount of C&D debris related to your project that might have been buried in a landfill. It is important that you document how this is done and save this information for your refund. The easiest method is to take the materials to a CDDD-Certified Facility. These facilities have been audited by the City to verify that at least 50% of the material accepted is diverted from burial in landfills.

If you take any loads to a CDDD-Certified Facility, you must inform the operator that the load is from a CDDD Project and provide the Permit Number to be entered on the receipt. If you enlist the services of a hauler to take the materials to a facility for you, make sure your hauler is aware of the CDDD Program and can provide you with the required information. Refund applicants must provide documentation to demonstrate that the C&D debris and other project materials were adequately diverted from burial in the landfill (San José Municipal Code Chapter 9.10, Part 15).

Apply For a CDDD Refund

Make sure you have the required items corresponding to the option in the Refund Requirements that best matches your project. Once you have collected all your documents, review and follow all instructions given on the CDDD Refund Request Form. Refunds will also be granted for projects where the building permit application is withdrawn or cancelled before any work has begun. The City must receive all refund requests no later than 12 months after the permit becomes inactive. The deposit is forfeited and becomes ineligilbe for refund 12 months after the permit becomes inactive.