The Palm Springs City Council Wednesday asked staff for minor amendments to a proposed ordinance that would require construction and demolition projects to divert 75 percent of generated waste from landfills to recycling.

The ordinance would apply to projects that require a demolition, grading or building permit where the building is 120 square feet or more, according to a city staff report.

Debris from construction and demolition activities in Palm Springs represents a “significant volume of material going to landfills,” according to the report.

Waste often generated from the projects include concrete, asphalt, wood, metals, wallboard and bricks.

Excess cardboard that is used to package appliances and products is also found on sites, according to the report.

Indio, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta and Indian Wells have recently approved similar ordinances, according to Palm Springs spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell.

In other action, the City Council voted 5-0 to donate a Palm Springs Fire Department engine to the College of the Desert's Public Safety Academy.

The city recently purchased two new 2009 Pierce Quantum fire engines, Blaisdell said.

The engine would be given to the Roy Wilson Fire Station and Training Center in Thousand Palms, which will be dedicated by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 14.

The station will be named after Wilson, a former county supervisor who died unexpectedly in August.

The council also voted 5-0 to accept a $16,000 state grant for the city's police department to implement seat belt and child safety seat compliance patrols.