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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Provide composting infrastructure to meet the needs of the entire project.
Option 1. Regular compost collection and offsite processing (1 point)
Provide organic waste receptacles and regular organic waste collection.- Collect food waste (and vegetation trimmings, if applicable).
- Locate and highlight central collection areas for organic waste on submitted floor plans.
- Locate organic waste receptacles wherever there are central recycling and landfill receptacles and provide signage that clearly illustrates what is accepted compost.
- Contract with a local hauler to pick-up organic waste from the project weekly.
- Arrange a 2-year minimum commitment if a contract with a private hauler is required and arrange for weekly pick-up of organic waste, if applicable. Otherwise, provide evidence of a municipal ordinance mandating composting.
- Calculate or estimate the volume of organic waste generated from the project and corresponding capacity required. Provide enough collection receptacles and storage to manage 100% of the existing or projected organic waste generated. If a waste stream audit is not feasible, the project team may make an informed estimate using a waste stream study of a similar building in close proximity to the project or using historical data from existing projects in other locations of similar size and function.
- Once volume and capacity are determined, evaluate source reduction opportunities for the project (e.g., alter purchasing practices, join food donation programs).
- Arrange outreach and education procedure for the building operations and maintenance staff as well as new occupants or tenants involving their acknowledgement of the organic waste collection receptacle (i.e. move-in packet information, Eco-Ambassador outreach, etc.)
Option 2. Onsite compost processing (1 point)
Provide organic waste collection receptacles and onsite compost unit(s) for onsite storage and processing.- Compost vegetation trimmings and compostable food waste.
- Locate and highlight central collection areas for organic waste on submitted floor plans. Locate and highlight onsite compost storage units on submitted site or floor plans.
- Locate organic waste receptacles wherever there are recycling and landfill receptacles and provide signage that clearly conveys what is accepted compost.
- Provide an onsite compost unit for the purpose of converting organic waste into compost. Resulting compost must not be entered into the waste stream and must be used for its intended purpose either onsite for landscaping or offsite for use by other parties.
- Establish a maintenance plan for the compost unit and appoint a party responsible for its maintenance.
- Calculate or estimate the volume of organic waste generated from the project and corresponding capacity required. Provide enough collection receptacles and storage to manage 100% of the existing or projected organic waste generated. If a waste stream audit is not feasible, the project team may make an informed estimate using a waste stream study of a similar building in close proximity to the project or using historical data from existing projects in other locations of similar size and function.
- Once volume and capacity are determined, evaluate source reduction opportunities for the project (e.g., alter purchasing practices, join food donation programs).
- Arrange outreach and education procedure for the building operations and maintenance staff as well as new occupants or tenants involving their acknowledgement of the organic waste collection receptacle and compost storage unit (i.e. move-in packet information, Eco-Ambassador outreach, etc.)
For O+M Projects Only
Conduct a waste stream study to estimate the amount of vegetation trimmings and food waste, if applicable, that will be generated. Compost vegetation trimmings and compostable food waste. Consider using a mulching mower when trimming grass and leaving plant materials in situ. Ensure the site maintenance demonstrates anticipated strategies for composting or recycling any vegetation trimmings and food waste. If a waste stream study is not feasible, the project team may make an informed estimate using a waste stream study of a similar building in close proximity to the project or using historical data from existing projects in other locations of similar size and function.Submittals
General
Register for the pilot credit- Participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum
- Complete the feedback survey:
Credit Specific
See guide tab for documentation requirements and guidanceChanges
- 9/13/2019 - original publication
- 05/17/2021 - made applicable to v2009 projects
What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »Frequently asked questions
See all forum discussions about this credit »Documentation toolkit
The motherlode of cheat sheets
LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Provide composting infrastructure to meet the needs of the entire project.
Option 1. Regular compost collection and offsite processing (1 point)
Provide organic waste receptacles and regular organic waste collection.- Collect food waste (and vegetation trimmings, if applicable).
- Locate and highlight central collection areas for organic waste on submitted floor plans.
- Locate organic waste receptacles wherever there are central recycling and landfill receptacles and provide signage that clearly illustrates what is accepted compost.
- Contract with a local hauler to pick-up organic waste from the project weekly.
- Arrange a 2-year minimum commitment if a contract with a private hauler is required and arrange for weekly pick-up of organic waste, if applicable. Otherwise, provide evidence of a municipal ordinance mandating composting.
- Calculate or estimate the volume of organic waste generated from the project and corresponding capacity required. Provide enough collection receptacles and storage to manage 100% of the existing or projected organic waste generated. If a waste stream audit is not feasible, the project team may make an informed estimate using a waste stream study of a similar building in close proximity to the project or using historical data from existing projects in other locations of similar size and function.
- Once volume and capacity are determined, evaluate source reduction opportunities for the project (e.g., alter purchasing practices, join food donation programs).
- Arrange outreach and education procedure for the building operations and maintenance staff as well as new occupants or tenants involving their acknowledgement of the organic waste collection receptacle (i.e. move-in packet information, Eco-Ambassador outreach, etc.)
Option 2. Onsite compost processing (1 point)
Provide organic waste collection receptacles and onsite compost unit(s) for onsite storage and processing.- Compost vegetation trimmings and compostable food waste.
- Locate and highlight central collection areas for organic waste on submitted floor plans. Locate and highlight onsite compost storage units on submitted site or floor plans.
- Locate organic waste receptacles wherever there are recycling and landfill receptacles and provide signage that clearly conveys what is accepted compost.
- Provide an onsite compost unit for the purpose of converting organic waste into compost. Resulting compost must not be entered into the waste stream and must be used for its intended purpose either onsite for landscaping or offsite for use by other parties.
- Establish a maintenance plan for the compost unit and appoint a party responsible for its maintenance.
- Calculate or estimate the volume of organic waste generated from the project and corresponding capacity required. Provide enough collection receptacles and storage to manage 100% of the existing or projected organic waste generated. If a waste stream audit is not feasible, the project team may make an informed estimate using a waste stream study of a similar building in close proximity to the project or using historical data from existing projects in other locations of similar size and function.
- Once volume and capacity are determined, evaluate source reduction opportunities for the project (e.g., alter purchasing practices, join food donation programs).
- Arrange outreach and education procedure for the building operations and maintenance staff as well as new occupants or tenants involving their acknowledgement of the organic waste collection receptacle and compost storage unit (i.e. move-in packet information, Eco-Ambassador outreach, etc.)
For O+M Projects Only
Conduct a waste stream study to estimate the amount of vegetation trimmings and food waste, if applicable, that will be generated. Compost vegetation trimmings and compostable food waste. Consider using a mulching mower when trimming grass and leaving plant materials in situ. Ensure the site maintenance demonstrates anticipated strategies for composting or recycling any vegetation trimmings and food waste. If a waste stream study is not feasible, the project team may make an informed estimate using a waste stream study of a similar building in close proximity to the project or using historical data from existing projects in other locations of similar size and function.Submittals
General
Register for the pilot credit- Participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum
- Complete the feedback survey:
Credit Specific
See guide tab for documentation requirements and guidanceChanges
- 9/13/2019 - original publication
- 05/17/2021 - made applicable to v2009 projects
