Does anyone have experience of the USGBC accepting EfW (Energy-from-Waste) facilities as recycling? In Europe this is a fairly standard method of diverting waste from landfill and it is here referred to as recycling.
You rely on LEEDuser. Can we rely on you?
LEEDuser is supported by our premium members, not by advertisers.
Go premium for
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11478 thumbs up
May 14, 2010 - 10:12 am
I haven't tried this (commonly called waste-to-energy in the U.S., or simply incineration, and generally has a negative reputation environmentally here), but I think it has zero percent chance of working in LEED with MRc2.The MRc2 credit intent clearly states that the point of the credit is to divert waste from the landfill or from incineration.
Victoria Lockhart
Arup Associates125 thumbs up
May 21, 2010 - 3:43 am
In the CS Rating System it states:
Construction debris processed into a recycled content commodity which has an open market value (e.g. wood derived fuel [WDF], alternative daily cover material, etc.) may be applied to the construction waste calculation.
Are we then to assume that CO2-neutral electricity production from incineration is ok, but the general burning of mixed rubbish to produce heath and warmth is not?
Does anyone have any experience with the GBCI accepting or rejecting specifically the "wood derived fuel" strategy? Thanks!
Steve Beck
Chief Sustainability OfficerLeChase Construction Services LLC
8 thumbs up
May 25, 2010 - 8:02 pm
yes, we tested this via CIR as well as a true "waste to energy" approach, not incineration. It was rejected. Neither USGBC or GBCI can differentiate the difference between WTE and incineration. True WTE is tightly controlled by the USEPA as far as emissions and the carbon footprint analysis in most instances indicates a lower impact than landfilling. There is significant work being done across the US in WTE and the State of Kentucky is showing real leadership; worth checking out. CWM is far more than just recycling and must be comprehensive in order to be effective. WTE can be part of a more comprehensive approach and may ultimately be a viable soluton for many urban centers that are rapidly running out of acceptable areas for landfills (if there is such a thing)
Kathryn West
LEED AP BD+C, O+M, Green Globes ProfessionalJLL
154 thumbs up
March 6, 2014 - 10:44 pm
Waste to energy creates lots of dirty air. I believe it is significantly worse than burning clean wood- think of all the plastic and paint that can be in your trash. Wood derived fuel has to be clean wood. Look up the emissions rates for trash to energy plants. It's not really something they want to encourage even if it does spare landfill space.
RETIRED
LEEDuser Expert
623 thumbs up
March 10, 2014 - 4:56 pm
Interesting that waste-to-energy can potentially be included in LEED v4. From MR credit Construction and Demolition Waste Management's requirements: "However, for projects that cannot meet credit requirements using reuse and recycling methods, waste-to-energy systems may be considered waste diversion if the European Commission Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC and Waste Incineration Directive 2000/76/EC are followed and Waste to Energy facilities meet applicable European Committee for Standardization (CEN) EN 303 standards."
LEED 2009 teams can use the LEED v4 Construction and Demolition Waste Management prerequisite and credit - http://www.usgbc.org/articles/use-v4-credits-your-v2009-project - as a substitute for CWM credit.