-
Create and implement solid waste management policy
This highly achievable prerequisite requires you to create and implement a solid waste management (SWM) policy aimed at reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill from your building. Most teams will be able to create a good SWM policy with in-house staff at little to no additional cost.
Having such a policy in place will provide building staff with clear procedures for managing all categories of waste, and by having a written policy covering those areas, it paves the way for your project to achieve:
- MRc7: Solid Waste Management—Ongoing Consumables;
- MRc8: Solid Waste Management—Durable Goods;
- and MRc9: Solid Waste Management—Facility Alterations and Additions.
Document the policy, not the practice
You are required only to...
Step-by-step credit help
Got the gist of the LEED credit but not sure how to actually achieve it? LEEDuser gives step-by-step help. Members get:
- Checklists covering all the key action steps you'll need to earn the credit.
- Hot tips to give you shortcuts and avoid pitfalls.
- Cost tips to assess what a credit will actually cost, and how to make it affordable.
- Ideas for going beyond LEED with best practices.
- All checklists organized by project phase.
- On-the-fly suggestions on useful items from the Documentation Toolkit, Resources, and Credit Language.
-
Credit language straight from USGBC
Need to check up on the exact LEED credit language from the LEED Rating System on the fly? LEEDuser includes the verbatim language. Members get:
- Easy access to the official LEED credit language with just a couple of clicks.
- On the jobsite without your bulky LEED Reference Guide? Check up on the credit language details here.
- Credit language content is used by permission of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Your credit-by-credit reference library
Why waste time chasing down referenced standards and supporting resources when LEEDuser links you directly to the ones you need? LEEDuser has gathered all the best tools out there and organized them by credit for easy reference. Members get links to:
- Organizations that can give information or help on a credit.
- Standards or studies that are key reference points for credits and prerequisites.
- Articles that help explain important topics.
- Key documents or references for credit inputs.
- Software tools you can use to run calculations or simulations.
Documentation Toolkit
In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:
- Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
- Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
- Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
- Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
- Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
- Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.
27 Comments
No sorting possible
I have a project in a city, where there are no possibilities for sorting, as the municipality only gathers waste in one big chunk. So even if we would sort, it would just be put in the same container. Can we get a certification based on these premises, since no policy for sorting of waste can be done? A sorting of waste within the building does not make any sense, as it all ends up the same place.
Do you mean that all recycling is co-mingled but is still kept separate from the trash, or that all recycling and trash are co-mingled?
All trash and recycling are commingled when it is collected. It makes no sense to sort in plastic, metal, paper etc when it all is collected in one big chunk. What should we do?
I'm making the assumption that this is not a US city....so taking that as the starting point I hope that I can at least point you in some directions. First wherever the total co-mingled ends up (usually at the transfer station), investigate if they have a separation plant that will divide up the recycle form the trash. If so gather details of how they do it (include pictures) and then gather results from the company showing the %'s of the different streams. If there is no such operation then I'm afraid that it is down to you. While you may feel that it makes no sense this is what market-leadership is all about (in any case you'll need to do an on-site dumpster dive to create the baseline "what's in the trash/recycle stream")....and you're going to have to sort on site, find recyclers to take the various items (every different stream will need weighing and recording). Yes, I know that sounds a lot, but what we're trying to do is move the marketplace and, I hope, that your work will be reported on and start the local process of separate stream recycling. (It's not easy being the market leader)
General questions on Prereq Policies
Two questions on the prerequisite policies:
1. Is it a requirement that the prereq policies are developed & in place PRIOR to the performance period? The language in the reference guide varies for each of the prereqs that require policies.
For instance - MRp1 says on p 242 of the ref guide "Owners and managers SHOULD adopt a sustainable purchasing policy for the project building before the performance period begins". MRp2 says on p. 247 says "the solid waste management policy MUST be adopted before the beginning of the performance period". We can see the benefits of getting the policies completed and adopted prior to attempting the associated credits, but if we're not attempting say the MRc1 ongoing consumablesOngoing consumables have a low cost per unit and are regularly used and replaced in the course of business. Examples include paper, toner cartridges, binders, batteries, and desk accessories. because of difficulties in multitenant buildings, would we still have to have this policy (and all the other policies) in place before we start the performance periods?
2. MRp2 P 247 of the ref guide also says that the person responsible for overseeing implementation of the solid waste management policy and agreements with waste contractors must complete the credit template for this prerequisite. Would there be a problem if we, as LEED consultants, fill out the forms for our client? (this question applies to other credits as well - are there any other credit forms that MUST be filled out by the onsite property management team vs. a LEED consultant on behalf of the property team?)
I think the language is pretty clear that the policy must be in place for the performance period. Even if you are not attempting the related credits, there still must be a policy. The details and implementation of it can vary based on your non-participation in the credit.
With the LEED Online forms, there aren't any firm requirements about certain forms needing to be filled out by certain people. There are signatory requirements for some credits that need to be honored, however.
Recycling fluorescent bulbs
Where do we account for the bulbs that are recycled? MR c7?
Yes, I would say so.
Documentation missing
I've been trying to download the EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. MRp2 SWM Policy Template, but apparently the link is broken. Is there a way to restore it or download it elsewhere? Thank you.
Jorge, I downloaded it just now without any problem. Can you describe exactly what's not working? Here's the direct link:
http://www.leeduser.com/sites/default/files/credit_docs/MRp2-EBOM_SWM-Po...
Collection
This prereq. states no documentation/tracking is required and just the policy is required. The building I am working on commingles all waste which is then seperated at a sorting station along with all other waste from the other buildings along the trucks route, so there is no way to identify which waste is our's or how much ongoing/durable waste is being recycled per our specific building. The document in the toolkit shows the use of percentages of each, but how could I say based on our sorting station statistics 65% of all materials are recycled, would that satisfy the credit?
I think you need to go through MRc7, 8 and 9 and make sure that the policy you're proposing would meet the requirements of those credits. There may be some specific issues you run into.
Do the percentages used in the sample policies truly matter? For example we are trying a new waste hauler who has scaled on their trucks so we can achieve MRc7 which we will be able to hit the 50% mark, we are in the process of setting up a durable good collection standard (95%) we hope, and the facility alterations we dont think we will pursue with the added costs involved and requiring an alteration during the performance period. If we put down 0% how will this be graded during the review process. I dont want to put down 50% as we wont be diverting 50%? Also, how are we expected to discuss our policy relating to facility alterations if we dont think we will be diverting any of the materials? How exact or accurate do these %'s need to be?
Paul, I think your questions are answered under the Bird's Eye View description above.
Keep in mind that this policy is different from setting thresholds and documenting them in practice.
I'm still unclear on the weight of the percentages and what I should put down for facility alterations if we dont plan to pursue this credit and this credit requires touching all credits 7,8,9?
Whether or not you plan to pursue those credits is immaterial. You need to have a policy written for facility alterations. The credit would require you to document this policy and have it meet certain thresholds—you don't have to do that here. Make sense?
0% diversion rate doesn't seem like much of a policy. But you also don't have to aim for the credit threshold. It should be a meaningful goal for your facility, but this prereq won't make you document it.
clarity on policy requirements
My project is registered under EB : O&M first edition,august 2008.The refernce guide says (page 281) " This pre requisite requires only policies,not on going actual sustainable performance".
However,the template reads to verify that " The solid waste management policy or contractual agreemant was in effect for the project building over the performance period".
Is it a new policy or does it have to be in place over the performance period too ??
You do have to have a policy and put the policy in place in order to earn the prerequisite. The key point is that you don't have to set specific thresholds in the policy, or provide detailed documention of compliance.
other related green practices
my client had been practicing ISO 14000 for several years (over 5 years). as such, they already had in place a related waste management policy. their performance is normally based on constant annual improvements albeit gradual and not as high as LEED targets (50-70% depending on type of waste).
are we supposed to put in place a new policy or ammend existing ones to meet LEED targets in order to get this pre-requisite and related credits? how does this affect the performance period declaration? will LEED consider past/on-going practice leading to relatively 'higher' targets or will it impose the same targets regardless of what has been/is being implemented?
Your similar question is answered on the MRp1 forum. It's fine to amend the existing policy to meet the LEED targets. You will need to be in compliance for the performance period—the existing non-compliant policy won't work in this case.
Thank you Tristan.
The client actually has a policy for 100% diversion for durable goodsDurable goods have a useful life of 2 years or more and are replaced infrequently or may require capital program outlays. Examples include furniture, office equipment, appliances, external power adapters, televisions, and audiovisual equipment., facility alterations/additions, batteries and mercury in lamps, and a target of 70-75% for total (including on-going consumables) which was actually exceeded in certain periods.
My other concern is that they lumped all items in a 'total target'. While mathematically this will in fact be higher than LEED targets, is it necessary that separate targets be created in a policy for on-going consumables? Will this target (70-75%) for all, including on-going consumables + 100% durable goods, facility alterations/additions, batteries and mercury lamps be sufficient?
You do need specific, separate targets for each of the areas covered by MR credits 7 through 9.
Just received comments (copied below) on an application where this prerequisite was pended because our goals were not high enough.
"However, the policy has a goal of recycling 95% of mercury-containing lamps. The Requirements section of MRp2 in the LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Operations and Maintenance, 2009 Edition (Updated April 2010) states that the policy must have a goal
of recycling 100% of mercury-containing lamps. TECHNICAL ADVICE: Please provide a revised Solid Waste Management Policy that includes a goal of recycling 100% of mercury-containing lamps."
I'm posting here because I cannot find this requirement stated anywhere in the reference guide, nor in any addenda. Even the sample policy published on page 248 (2009 edition-updated April 2010) quotes a 95% reduction for mercury-containing light bulbs.
I am revising the policy, because we need to earn the prereq. and a goal of 100% is a good idea, not very different from a goal of 95%. However, I feel that this comment is unfair and characteristic of LEED reviewers interpreting the rating system differently than the general public. Has anyone else has a similar experience?
To help out the rest of us, the following policy goals were approved:
Reducing the overall amount of waste generated for:
Ongoing consumablesOngoing consumables have a low cost per unit and are regularly used and replaced in the course of business. Examples include paper, toner cartridges, binders, batteries, and desk accessories. by 70%
Durable goodsDurable goods have a useful life of 2 years or more and are replaced infrequently or may require capital program outlays. Examples include furniture, office equipment, appliances, external power adapters, televisions, and audiovisual equipment. by at least 75%
Facility alterations/additions by 70%
Batteries by at least 80%
Charlie,
I completely understand your frustration with this issue, and the easiest answer to this and other required documentation contradictions is to trust LEED Online as the final answer. The sample plan in the reference guide is very old, I think it may actually be from an earlier version of EB. I am not sure what version LEED Online form you used when submitting this project but I just checked a version 3 MRp2 LEED Online form and one of the required check boxes asked you to verify that the plan addresses the goal that all mercury containing lamps be recycled. The form version can be found at the bottom of each page of the credit form.
In general, when LEED rolls out new documentation requirements they do it via LEED Online updated forms, and don't necessarily note this in addenda. It is kind of a strange way to do it, but that has been my experience. I would also strongly suggest using the LEED User policy templates (you can download them in the documentation toolkit tab), which note that 100% of the lamps need to be recycled
Under the "requirements" section in the reference guide (p. 245), it does say that "all" lamps have to be recycled, "Have in place a solid waste management policy for the building and site addressing the requirements of the waste management credits listed below as well as recycling of all mercury-containing lamps." The example plan that references 95% is probably just a carry over from older version as Jacob noted above. I would suggest submitting a comment on LEED online so they are aware of the discrepancy. We have submitted other discrepancy feedback on the LEED online feedback button and they have been pretty quick to respond. Good Luck!
Required Waste haulers
Can you tell me if contracts with waste haulers are required? My project is a small office building located on a college campus. Currently the office personnel or college students carry all recyclables to the city recycling collection points and do not receive a receipt. I know for compliance with MR credit 7-9 they will be required to quantify amounts, but can they do it themselves or are they going to be required to have a contract and pay a thrid party to do this? Thanks!
Janna, for MRp2, the prerequisite you've posted this question under, you don't need to document compliance at all—you simply need to have a policy in place.
For MRc7, MRc8, and MRc9, you would need to collect some kind of documentation, but I think you could justify some kind of occupant-generated log system rather than receipts from a paid hauler. Perhaps a letter or something from the city confirming that this is how it's done would also help with the documentation package.
Please register to use the forum.