Racine, WI guide
Construction and demolition debris in Wisconsin isn't just hauled and buried — a real state regulatory framework governs what gets recovered and how. Here's what that means for your project.
Construction and demolition (C&D) debris in Wisconsin is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources under Wis. Admin. Code chapters NR 500 through 538. That's not a technicality — it shapes what materials can be recovered, what needs to go through a licensed facility, and what's exempt from full solid-waste licensing when handled correctly.
The DNR identifies a specific list of commonly recoverable C&D materials: aluminum and vinyl siding, asphalt and asphalt shingles, brick, masonry and concrete, structural metals like steel and rebar, untreated lumber, wallboard and drywall, carpet and carpet pad, and plumbing fixtures. Recovering these materials rather than sending them straight to a landfill is a real, meaningful part of how C&D debris gets handled in Wisconsin, not just an aspirational talking point.
Certain clean, source-separated C&D materials are exempt from full solid-waste licensing requirements when they're not placed in floodplains, wetlands or other critical habitats — specifically brick, broken pavement (concrete or asphalt), building stone, clean soil, concrete and untreated wood. Keeping these materials separated from mixed debris, rather than combining everything into one load, is what makes that exemption pathway available.
Wood, shingles, brick and concrete collectively make up more than a quarter of all landfilled waste in Wisconsin annually, according to the DNR — a solid, sobering statistic for anyone weighing whether recycling C&D debris is worth the extra sorting effort. It genuinely is: this is one of the largest, most recoverable categories of material Wisconsin sends to landfills every year.
Open burning of C&D debris is illegal in Wisconsin, with narrow exceptions requiring DNR approval or licensing — homeowners retain only a limited allowance to burn small quantities of clean wood or paper, not construction debris. And because Racine County doesn't administer a single unified county-wide waste ordinance, the DNR directs residents and contractors with demolition-debris questions to their county's own solid-waste management specialist for the specifics that apply to their project and municipality.
When it makes sense for the debris in your container, we route recoverable material — clean concrete, metal and other recyclables — for recovery rather than treating every load identically. If your project has specific documentation requirements tied to a permit or a source-separation plan, mention that when you call and we'll work with you on it.
Call (262) 383-3695 if you have questions about how your specific debris load will be handled, or reach out to your county's solid-waste management specialist for questions specific to Wisconsin's DNR rules under NR 500–538.
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From this guide
The Wisconsin DNR regulates C&D debris under Wis. Admin. Code chapters NR 500 through 538.
Aluminum and vinyl siding, asphalt and shingles, brick and concrete, structural metals, untreated lumber, drywall, carpet and carpet pad, and plumbing fixtures are all commonly identified as recoverable by the DNR.
No — open burning of C&D debris is illegal in Wisconsin, with narrow exceptions requiring DNR approval or licensing. Homeowners may only burn small quantities of clean wood or paper.
More than a quarter of all landfilled waste in Wisconsin annually, according to the DNR — a major reason recycling C&D debris is worth the extra sorting effort.
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