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LEED v4
Retail – New Construction
Materials and Resources

Storage and collection of recyclables

LEED CREDIT

Retail-NC-v4 MRp1: Storage and Collection of Recyclables Required

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Jim Nicolow

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Lord Aeck Sargent
Director of Sustainability

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Requirements

Conduct a waste stream study to identify the retail project’s top five recyclable waste streams, by either weight or volume, using consistent metrics. Based on the waste stream study, list the top four waste streams for which collection and storage space will be provided. If no information is available on waste streams for the project, use data from similar operations to make projections. Retailers with existing stores of similar size and function can use historical information from their other locations.

Provide dedicated areas accessible to waste haulers and building occupants for the separation, collection, and storage of recyclable materials for at least the top four recyclable waste streams identified by the waste study. Locate the collection and storage bins close the source of recyclable waste. If any of the top four waste streams are batteries, mercury-containing lamps, or electronic waste, take appropriate measures for safe collection, storage, and disposal.

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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

Are we required to collect and recycle food waste?

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Is it okay to use a collection area outside the LEED project boundary?

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There are limited or no recycling services in our project location. Should I still provide the required space?

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(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

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?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

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What formula should I use to determine the size of my collection/storage area?

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See all forum discussions about this credit »

Documentation toolkit

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LEEDuser expert

Jim Nicolow

FAIA, LEED Fellow

Lord Aeck Sargent
Director of Sustainability

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USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Conduct a waste stream study to identify the retail project’s top five recyclable waste streams, by either weight or volume, using consistent metrics. Based on the waste stream study, list the top four waste streams for which collection and storage space will be provided. If no information is available on waste streams for the project, use data from similar operations to make projections. Retailers with existing stores of similar size and function can use historical information from their other locations.

Provide dedicated areas accessible to waste haulers and building occupants for the separation, collection, and storage of recyclable materials for at least the top four recyclable waste streams identified by the waste study. Locate the collection and storage bins close the source of recyclable waste. If any of the top four waste streams are batteries, mercury-containing lamps, or electronic waste, take appropriate measures for safe collection, storage, and disposal.

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 »

In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, 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.

Are we required to collect and recycle food waste?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Is it okay to use a collection area outside the LEED project boundary?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

There are limited or no recycling services in our project location. Should I still provide the required space?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

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?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

What formula should I use to determine the size of my collection/storage area?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

LEEDuser expert

Jim Nicolow

FAIA, LEED Fellow

Lord Aeck Sargent
Director of Sustainability

See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Subscribe to new discussions about Retail-NC-v4 MRp1 View the LEED v4.1 version of this credit