NC 2009 MRp1: Storage and Collection of Recyclables

Mauricio,

You do need to collect paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics and metals. However you can use comingledA process of recycling materials that allows consumers to dispose of various materials (such as paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal) in one container that is separate from waste. The recyclable materials are not sorted until they are collected and brought to a sorting facility. recycling, so having separate containers for all of those is not necessary. If this is a college project I think it's likely that they produce those 5 types of recyclables [paper=paper and cardboard, PET=plastics, aluminum=metal, other=glass]. If you believe (and have data to back up) that the college does not produce one of those types of recycling, you could include a narrative, but it may be denied.

It is ok to have the central collection for recyling outside of your specific project so long as it is accessible and you are able to show it on a plan. You should include a narrative here as well.

We have come across this same issue lately and it seems some reviewers/cases do want specific volume/capacity approximations.
If the hauler can't give a volume approximation, a way you might be able to do it (not sure if easiest or best at all) is a combination of resources from California Integrated Waste Management Board (Diversion % by Industry Groups http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Publications/Disposal/34106006.pdf and Disposal Rates by Biz http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/wastechar/DispRate.htm ) along with a Volume-to-Weight Conversion http://www.recyclemaniacs.org/doc/measurement-tracking/conversions.pdf
It seems there should be a better resource out there?... would like to know as well if anyone has used!

Charles,

You are correct when you refer to the square foot numbers as reccomendations; they are just that, and they are not requirments.

What you need to show is how this area is sufficient. You can do this by detailing the volume of recycling and trash per cycle (based on how often it will be picked up or moved to a central storage locatin, like the larger dumpsters you mention).

Your project is very fortunate to have access to this level of service. With an adequate description and reference to the municipal policy, the project should not need additional space dedicated because the collection system is adequate and suited to the project needs.

Mauricio - it sounds like your project has a good plan that is tailored to its needs. The recommended guidance does not stipulate the sizing. Be very clear that you are addressing the requirements and making recycling easy for users and haulers, and you should be fine.

The prerequisite requires a description and drawing that shows the "dedicated recycling storage areas" that are used to collect "paper; corrugated cardboard; glass; plastics; metals"; this may be quite different than the manufacturing process that reclaims pre-consumer material for reuse/recycling.

Consider providing a narrative that briefly demonstrates you have estimated the volume following something like a Solid Waste Assessment. Looking through resources such as those found at the California Integrated Waste Management Board's posting - see case studies and approaches in Establishing A Waste Reduction Program at Work participant's manual at http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Publications/default.asp?pubid=776 and waste disposal rates for Public Admin at http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/wastechar/DispRate.htm

Julie, that is correct.

I would also check to see if any private haulers are available.

Depending on the size of the individual buildings, the reviewers may require you to provide designated storage areas with individual buildings that generate a large volume of waste. A main guest lodge with kitchen and dining facilities, for example, would probably need to have its own designated storage area. For other buildings the most important thing is to provide a narrative describing the waste management plan that explains how recyclables are being separated from other waste, collected on site, stored, and then where they go.

Since guest rooms or small outbuildings are probably maintained by housekeeping staff, it might be acceptable to have two labeled waste bins in a room - one for all recyclables, and one for other landfill trash. The narrative will need to describe who collects these, how often, where they are taken, how they are sorted and stored, etc.

Catherine, I would say this is allowed, provided as you note that it is enough space, and it is easily accessible.

Hi Tristan, thanks for your reply. If we submit the information with the recycling shown in the existing building and this proposal is rejected - do we get an opportunity to comply by submitting an alternative solution?

Yes, you can appeal, or if you submit this credit as part of a Design-phase submision, you can make changes for the Construction-phase submission.

That will depend a lot on the activity of the office. I don't know of a reference for this, other than Googling for it.

If this is an existing client, can you do an audit to find out?

You might try looking around this web page, the reference guide mentions this website for sizing recycling in the resource section of MRp1. www.ciwmb.ca.gov/wasteChar/ and this page seems helpful... http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/wastechar/DispRate.htm

Hello Emmanuel, the prereq. specifically asks for recycling to be located within building to encourage recycling AND have easy access for a recycling hauler to take off site. So you do need to provide bins within the building for recycling.

I am working on a project and all recyclables and general waste are comingledA process of recycling materials that allows consumers to dispose of various materials (such as paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal) in one container that is separate from waste. The recyclable materials are not sorted until they are collected and brought to a sorting facility. and per the waste company do not have to be separated on our site or building. The waste company has a separation facility to separate the recyclables out of the waste. All waste (including recyclables) are to go into the dumpster that will be emptied on a regular bases (weekly). (3) questions.

1) Paper, Corrugated Cardboard, Glass, Plastics, and Metals are the requirement but what if the company does not recycle glass and glass won’t be diverted from the landfill?
2) To what extreme (cost, time and effort) does my client have to go to recycle and meet this prerequisite?

3) With this setup I don’t need a recyclable area either in the building correct?

Thanks
Lee

It is a little different, the local disposal service company requires all recyclables comingledA process of recycling materials that allows consumers to dispose of various materials (such as paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal) in one container that is separate from waste. The recyclable materials are not sorted until they are collected and brought to a sorting facility. and placed in clear plastic bags dumped into the main garbage container. The Janitors Closet in this building is sized to accommodate multiple clear plastic lined recycling bins. This room is accessible to all building users. The janitor is to place these bags in the dumpster as required by the disposal service company.
This eliminates question 3) but would still like to be advised on questions 1 and 2.

Thanks again!!

Lee, I would recommend you read our guidance above under the Bird's Eye View and Checklists tabs—these questions are answered in detail, with other helpful tips thrown in.

Hi Pete,

I would use the LEED Reference Guide Recycling Area Recommendations (on the Bird’s Eye View page) to help determine the square footage required for the retail space. This is based on project square footage and should be a good guide.

For this prerequisite you just have to provide one central collection and storage area for the entire building. So, if the space you’ve assigned for the residential portion can also be used by the retailers then you only need to provide one space. If however, the retailers won’t have access to the residential recycling collection area, then you’d need to provide two spaces.

Your project won’t be penalized because the town doesn’t provide recycling pick-up. The intent with this prerequisite is to provide the space for recycling when indeed recycling does become available in the town.

Hope that helps.
Shannon

Joanna, that was true in earlier versions of LEED for Schools but is no longer the case in LEED for Schools 2009 MRp1, or in other BD+C systems.

Follow-up - If the answer is yes to part one of this question:
Is one cabinet or “bin” within the units enough?

Jean, there is no specific requirement for square footage to meet the MRp1 requirements. The recommendations shown above are recommendations, but not binding.

The proper course is to allot enough square footage so that your building's recycling program will be effective. That will be your own judgement call. If all the recycling from the individual units winds up in the central location, I would hesitate to reduce its size, though, since the in-unit bin space is not performing the same function as the central space.

Thanks Tristan,

Presumably the actual collection point will be a recycling dumpster (or dumpsters) outside the building - so a central collection point inside the building would not make sense unless there were one for trash as well - which there is not (this is a four story 16-unit mixed-use building). So I guess the ultimate question is whether or not the collection must be in a centralized location inside the building irregardless of building type to meet the preRequisite?

Jean, when documenting this credit on LEED Online the first thing you'll be asked for is this following narrative:

"Describe the dedicated recycling storage areas in the project building. Include the size of the area, accessibility, and expected volume for the building, as well as collection frequency. Demonstrate that recycling storage areas are appropriately sized and located. Please refer to corresponding reference guide for guidelines on size of recycling storage areas."

To answer your question, I would say no, a centralized interior location is not required by the credit, but you will have to justify your system and reasoning in this narrative.

Tristan - so a separate dumpster outside the building for recycling would qualify, as long as it is appropriately sized?

I am working on a project in a city with no recycling pick-up service, and the LEED Reference guide says that the project should still provide adequate space for future recycling efforts.

Therefore, if I put those two things together, will it be sufficient to provide an empty paved spot next to the garbage dumpster for the future recycling dumpster? All we would need is a site plan showing the potential location of the recycling dumpster (and won't need an interior recycling room). Of course, we would still have the narrative to justify the sizing. Do I understand this correctly? Thank you.

Pete, this approach sounds reasonable to me. Note that the documentation asks not only about size but also location. I think you would want to show (probably in a narrative) that a recycling program in the building would work with the outside dumpster, i.e. that occupants could reasonable access it. If there is some indoor collection point(s), all the better.

Also note that the MRp1 credit language calls for space supporting the collection and storage of several types of materials. A single dumpster seems to assume that the future recycling pickup service would be comingledA process of recycling materials that allows consumers to dispose of various materials (such as paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal) in one container that is separate from waste. The recyclable materials are not sorted until they are collected and brought to a sorting facility., which may not be the case.

So, your approach does sound reasonable, as I said, but I would make sure to really think through all the credit requirements.

I would suggest:
1) One main garbage room, with space to store, sort recyclables and normal garbage - groundfloor or basement depending on access.
2) Per Floor, assuming each floor has a tee kitchen...
2.1) Bin for normal rubbish - in teekitchen
2.2) Bin for co-mingled plastics, packaging, glass, metals - in tee kitchen
3) In office spaces, paper bins

4) Either dedicated garbage elevator terminating in / next to main garbage room

OR

x1 garbage shoot for co-mingled recyclables and Paper (using plastic bin liners should keep these seperate); x1 for normal rubbish; for glass ...bring glass down by hand (simply because I imagine a 50 floor fall for anything glass will result in SMASHING).

5) Contract company to pick up a) co-mingled recyclables for off-site processing b) pick up paper waste c) pick up glass waste (maybe with a)) and d) pick up normal rubbish.

...I'm no Architect. I would get some proper reading on how to plan these.

Is there a hauler you can contract with who will take single-stream or comingledA process of recycling materials that allows consumers to dispose of various materials (such as paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal) in one container that is separate from waste. The recyclable materials are not sorted until they are collected and brought to a sorting facility. garbage from the building, and sort it in an off-site facility? If so, you would simply use a single chute for all waste, including space in the basement to collect it, and haul it off-site.

LEED does not require you to segregate recyclables, as long as they can be collected and later recycled.

Jean, according to the specific requirements of the MRp1 credit language, you're too far in the weeds! You need to provide the space for recycling—the details of the program are not prescribed by LEED.

Maya, there is no additional post-construction documentation required for this credit. That's assuming you don't have a really unusual situation in which you are doing an alternative compliance path and choose to use some kind of post-construction documentation.

Thanks Tristan.
This is actually the 1st LEED project we submit, and we were wondering if the same reasoning applies to all "Design" credits... i.e. Once a Design credit is submitted for Design Review and gets an "Anticipated" ruling, do we need to resubmit this credit at the end of the Construction phase and prove that implementation has actually occurred on site as per Design/Tender drawings? Does the Contractor or owner need to sign off each Design credit saying that all is in conformity with initial design submission?
Thanks!

Maya, generally speaking a "Design" credit does not require the kind of followup that you're asking about. "Anticipated" leaves the door open for project conditions to change, but in that case you would reopen your submission and update the design details—not follow up with construction info.