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Easy prerequisite – provide space for recycling
This prerequisite is very easy to meet. You only need to provide one space to store recycling. You are not even required to have a specific square footage, although the LEED Reference Guide does provide recommended square footage based on building size (see table below). To size this space properly, also consider the building’s needs and recommendations from your recycling hauler.
Recycling plan not required
Providing recycling bins for occupants in places like offices and kitchens is a good idea, but is not required for this credit. Nor do you have to actually implement a recycling plan. You simply have to provide the area for centralized recycling collection.
Simple documentation
When documenting this credit on LEED Online, you’ll simply write a narrative that details the size and accessibility of the recycling storage area, the expected volume of recycling and the frequency of pick-ups. Demonstrate that the area is located and sized properly.You’ll also need to check a few boxes confirming that you’ve provided recycling space for corrugated cardboard, metal, plastic, glass and paper, and upload a plan showing the location of the recycling storage area.
Change in LEED for Schools
In LEED v2, LEED for Schools projects were required to include a space for landscape debris in addition to recycling storage. This requirement has been dropped for the current version, LEED 2009.
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FAQs for MRp1
Recyclables generated in the building are collected in dedicated bins and transferred to a collection area outside the LEED project boundary. Is that okay?
Yes. The final collection point for the recycling can be outside your project boundary. With your documentation, show the location of the collection point, describe the process of how the recycling gets to that point including how access is provided for the required parties, and how you determined that it is large enough. You would still need receptacles inside the building at places like workstations and kitchen areas.
If the collection point serves multiple buildings, then LEEDuser recommends discussing in your narrative how you have determined that the space is sufficient to serve all the buildings.
There are limited or no recycling services in our project location. Should I still provide the required space?
Yes. As reinforced by LEED InterpretationLEED Interpretations are official answers to technical inquiries about implementing LEED on a project. They help people understand how their projects can meet LEED requirements and provide clarity on existing options. LEED Interpretations are to be used by any project certifying under an applicable rating system. All project teams are required to adhere to all LEED Interpretations posted before their registration date. This also applies to other addenda. Adherence to rulings posted after a project registers is optional, but strongly encouraged. LEED Interpretations are published in a searchable database at usgbc.org. #1803 made on 07/02/2007, "space must be provided in the building in anticipation of recycling resources becoming available in the future."
Are we required to collect and recycle food waste?
No. It's a good idea to do so, but it is not one of the required waste types.
Our project will have a different area for recycling than what is recommended in the LEED Reference Guide. Is that okay?
Yes. The recommended figures are just that—recommendations. However, you should plan on being able to explain how the space is sufficient. The most common way to do this through a short narrative detailing the volume of recycling and trash per cycle based on how often it will be picked up or moved to a central storage location, such as larger dumpsters.
Our municipality offers single-stream waste and recycling pickup; recyclables are separated from waste at an off-site processing facility. Even though the project needs only one type of bin, for single-stream waste, should we include space for recycling bins?
No, you don't need to. 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.
I'm confident we have enough space allotted for recycling, but how much detail should I go into in documenting expected volume?
LEEDuser recommends providing a brief narrative that demonstrates you have estimated the volume following something like a Solid Waste Assessment. Resources such as those found at the California Integrated Waste Management Board can be useful. See case studies and approaches in the Establishing A Waste Reduction Program at Work participant's manual and in the waste disposal rates for Public Admin.
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Pre-Design
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You don’t have to devote a specific square footage to recycling, but the LEED Reference Guide provides the following recommended areas based on building size. (See table.) However, you will have to provide a narrative describing how the area's dimensions were determined, and following the LEED recommendations provides a good basis for this.
Collection should be offered in areas that are convenient for occupants throughout the building, but this is not required for prerequisite compliance.
USGBC
Excerpted from LEED 2009 for Schools New Construction and Major Renovations
MR Prerequisite 1: Storage and collection of recyclables
Required
Intent
To facilitate the reduction of waste generated by building occupants that is hauled to and disposed of in landfills.
Requirements
Provide an easily-accessible dedicated area for the collection and storage materials for recycling for the entire building. Materials must include at a minimum paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics and metals.
Potential Technologies & Strategies
Designate an area for recyclable collection and storage that is appropriately sized and located in a convenient area. Identify local waste handlers and buyers for glass, plastic, metals, office paper, newspaper, cardboard and organic wastes. Instruct occupants on recycling procedures. Consider employing cardboard balers, aluminum can crushers, recycling chutes and other waste management strategies to further enhance the recycling program.
Organizations
California Integrated Waste Management Board
The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) offers information about waste reduction, recycling and solid waste characterization, as well as generation rates for offices, schools, and residences.
Web Tools
Earth 911
Earth 911 offers information and education programs on recycling as well as links to local recyclers.
Go Green Initiative
The Go Green Initiative is a comprehensive environmental action plan that promotes conservation and environmental education in schools. The website contains a variety of resources for developing environmental stewardship programs and curriculum about recycling, waste, and other environmental topics.
Floor Plan Showing Recycling Locations
You will be required to upload to LEED Online a project floorplan, like the approved sample shown here, showing recycling storage and collection areas.
Recycling Plan
You are not required to follow through with a recycling program to earn this prerequisite, so it is not necessary to document one for LEED as shown in this sample recycling plan. However, implementing a recycling program is only logical, once you have done the work of allocating space for it.
Recycling Area Narrative
To document this credit, you'll be required to write a narrative like this sample describing the recycling storage area, accessibility, frequency of pickup, and volume of the space. You will also need to describe how the area’s dimensions were determined.
LEED Online Forms: Schools-2009 MR
The following links take you to the public, informational versions of the dynamic LEED Online forms for each Schools-2009 MR credit. You'll need to fill out the live versions of these forms on LEED Online for each credit you hope to earn.
Version 4 forms (newest):
- MRc1.1: Building Reuse—Structural
- MRc1.2: Building Reuse—Interior
- MRc2: Construction Waste Management
- MRc3: Materials Reuse
- MRc4: Recycled Content
- MRc5: Regional Materials
- MRc6: Rapidly Renewable Materials
- MRc7: Certified Wood
Version 3 forms:
- MRp1: Storage and Collection of Recyclables
- MRc1.1: Building Reuse—Structural
- MRc1.2: Building Reuse—Interior
- MRc2: Construction Waste Management
- MRc3: Materials Reuse
- MRc4: Recycled Content
- MRc5: Regional Materials
- MRc6: Rapidly Renewable Materials
- MRc7: Certified Wood
These links are posted by LEEDuser with USGBC's permission. USGBC has certain usage restrictions for these forms; for more information, visit LEED Online and click "Sample Forms Download."
Design Submittal
Documentation for this credit can be part of a Design Phase submittal.
LEEDuser is produced by BuildingGreen, Inc., with YR&G authoring most of the original content. LEEDuser enjoys ongoing collaboration with USGBC.
12 Comments
glass not allowed in co-mingled recyclables
In the seattle area, many recyclers comingle plastic, paper, and metals, but they do not allow glass in 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., since the materials are sorted by hand, and it could endanger the employees. They do not pick up glass. What should the building owner do with the glass if they set up separate storage for it?
Molly, LEED doesn't require you to collect glass for recycling—just to allocate space for it.
glass
I am an on-call LEED consultant for the local public school system. They do not allow glass on any school campus - school policy. In every LEED submittal prior to v2009, GBCI has accepted that since the school does not allow glass on campus, they do not need to provide an area to recycle it. That said, my latest review team is insisting on it. So to meet the pre-req, the school has to change its policy? Seriously? Any ideas on how to convince my review team to use some logic here? Or do we provide recycling for something that will never exist?
Lisa,
My understanding is that you need to build in the capacity to recycle glass (along with the others). This doesn't mean you have to allow glass at the school, just that you need to have the means/capacity of storage/plan to recycle it. Since you probably won't be able to prove that there will never be glass on campus, I would suggest including storage space for it and hopefully the company you use for your other recyclables accept glass.
Location
Guidelines refer to a "dedicated recycling collection and storage area that is easily accessible whithin the building". I would imagine that most haulers would prefer to have this area located outside the building instead. Would that be acceptable?
Guidelines say "for projects with larger site areas. it may be possible to create a central collection area that is outside the building". That is not the case in our project; the site is large enough to hold the playing fields, but not much more. Any thoughts?
Donna, with your first question—I think the intent is to make sure that recycling can be collected within the building—not just that there is a place for the hauler to pick it up.
With your second question, I'm not sure what you're asking. What would you propose to do to earn the prerequisite?
The thought was to have bins for recycling adjacet to the trash dumpster in the exterior, easy for the haulers to pick. Collection inside the building would be on a room basis, since each will be provided with separate bins for recyclables. There would not be a dedicated room inside the building just for sorting. Does that sound acceptable?
Donna - I would say you are on the right track. The online documentation requires: a plan drawing with a call-out showing where recyclables are collected (in your project, this may be per room); and a site plan indicating the location of recyclables storage that is easily accessible for a hauler. In the narrative, you could explain that the hauler accepts 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. recyclables, so there is no need for a sorting area.
Campus Recycling
Our project is on a community college campus that has a dedicated recycling area for the campus that is not within our LEED project area. Is it acceptable to reference this area in the narrative and provide small bins in and around the project building that would be collected by campus maintenance staff and stored in the campus recycling area?
Yes, I would say so, if you think the space provided is truly adequate and accessible.
By the way, we have a tipsheet on documenting MRp1 on the site..
Garbage vs recycable area
Hi,
Could the dedicated recyclable area be located in the same area as the main garbage bins, if the bins are properly labeled and the space is sufficient for both? Or would we need a clear separation between both areas (such as a wall or a completely separate room)?
Thanks
It's fine to put both garbage and recycling in the same area, given the provisions you describe.
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