Policies, codes, and standards shape the materials we use in buildings and how construction and demolition are carried out. These tools serve two essential roles:

  • Setting a baseline that prevents unnecessary waste, pollution, and carbon emissions.
  • Creating the conditions for better building practices, healthier materials, and circular solutions to emerge.

By establishing a clear foundation—through CALGreen, local construction and demolition ordinances, sustainable procurement guidelines, and other policies—cities and builders can make decisions that reduce risk, improve long-term performance, and support a more resilient local economy. Strong, consistent policies make it easier for the market to respond with innovative materials, services, and building practices that go beyond compliance.

StopWaste supports Alameda County jurisdictions and building partners in adopting, implementing, and navigating these policies in ways that meet local needs while advancing community and environmental well-being.

Current Policy Areas

Below are the policies related to building and construction that StopWaste is tracking or provides guidance, training, research, and coordination.

Building under construction

POLICY AREA

CALGreen and Embodied Carbon Requirements

The statewide green building code CALGreen continues to evolve, including new embodied carbon requirements for large nonresidential buildings. These updates influence material choices, procurement strategies, and verification practices for public and private projects. We help local building departments understand and implement CALGreen updates by providing updates, informational resources, and technical support as needed. CALGreen and C&D Recycling: CALGreen and local ordinances require contractors to submit a Construction Debris Management Plan to show that at least 65% of materials are diverted from landfill. This requires contractors to establish on-site infrastructure, practices, and policies for sorting material that can be diverted for either re-use or recycling
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Low Carbon Concrete Code

Concrete is a major contributor to embodied carbon. We support jurisdictions in Alameda County to adopt a Low-Carbon Concrete Code to reduce emissions in public and private construction. Through a partnership with Marin County funded by the Bay Area Air District, we developed a toolkit with background research and model policy language.

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Construction & Demolition (C&D) Ordinances, Deconstruction, and Reuse

C&D ordinances help keep materials out of landfills and encourage recovery, separation, and recycling. Many cities are now exploring deeper approaches—such as deconstruction and material reuse—to capture more value and reduce carbon impacts. We partner with Alameda County and neighboring jurisdictions to share best practices, discuss emerging policies, and develop guidance for deconstruction, salvage, and reuse. This includes the work of the Bay Area Deconstruction Working Group. Additional dedicated resource page on C&D policies and deconstruction is in development.

Energy Codes

Energy codes increasingly encourage or require efficient electric systems over gas, improving indoor air quality and reducing long-term emissions. These shifts influence mechanical systems, building envelopes, and material choices. Through BayREN’s Codes & Standards program, we support building departments with training, resources, and analysis related to new and emerging energy code requirements. We help jurisdictions prepare for potential updates and coordinate regionally where possible.

Learn more: Local Government Assistance - L3.docx

Supporting Innovation

Policy serves as a guardrail and an enabler: it defines a healthy baseline, creates the conditions for better practices to emerge, and supports communities in moving from compliance toward creativity, resilience, and long-term well-being. We are exploring policy solutions to help enable innovations such as:

  • Biobased building materials (e.g., straw, hemp, bamboo)
  • Reused and salvaged materials
  • Modular systems and industrialized construction
  • Community-based small developers building “missing middle” housing
  • Local manufacturers and suppliers developing new low-carbon materials

We aim to help bridge the gap between innovators and regulators, working with building officials to understand performance characteristics, code-compliance pathways, and documentation needs for new materials. We also help identify obstacles facing small-scale builders and support pathways that maintain safety while enabling infill housing and small commercial development.

We will continue partnering with local governments, builders, and community members to ensure building-related policies remain practical, adaptive, and aligned with thriving, low-carbon, circular futures.