Commingled Recycling Problem

Ryan...Ok this sounds a bit of a mess so let's break it down. First why are the custodial bagging it separate and then throwing it all in the trash bin. Step one. Audit the waste stream. This is almost being done for you as the 'once a week custodial' are separating the recycles and the trash....so you would seem to have only a small load to sort through. The results will be a list of all the items in the TOTAL stream, sub divided into recycles, trash, compostables, etc. Now comes the difficult bit. To gain the credit all the recycles must be recycled, but where? Options could be that they are seperately hauled by 'someone' and a 'report', weigh ticket, cash receipt provided as evidence. (Sounds basic, but that may be the only answer). Exactly how big a problem is this?

LEEDUSERS
Subsequent to the above, Ryan and I had a side bar, which, if you plough through the following, saved Ryan $800. Ryan agreed that I download this all for your delectation:

Barry

Thanks for taking a minute to respond to my question on LEED User. Let me try and clarify my problem.

We currently have separate bins for all of our trash and recyclables throughout our building. The cleaning staff then collects and bags the trash and recyclables separately. All of the bags are then thrown into one large dumpster. These dumpsters are then collected and separated off site into recyclables and non-recyclables by our trash haulers. 100% of recyclable content gets recycled because there is no way for someone to put a bottle in the waste bin by accident. The only reason we bag garbage separately is so the garbage does not contaminate the paper for recycling. I just don’t know how to quantify how much recycling vs. garbage we produce unless we have the cleaning staff bag the garbage and recycling separately and then I quantify the volumes myself at the end of the week.

I hope this is clearer. I really would like to figure out how to get this credit.

Thanks again, Ryan

Ryan
Here's a suggestion. Can you get the waste hauler to produce numbers (Verifiable numbers) of their recycle %? (It's not 100%...probably nearer 60%).

You'll need to use your separate bin method to show how much % you're doing in the building and complete a waste audit on the total stream to see what you're missing in the recycle.
Now comes the problem, you're waste hauler will get, as I think, about 60%. The waste audit will show that you have the potential to recycle, say 85% and your separate bin method will show that you are currently managing 70%.

The GBCI will then ask...'how are you going to close the gap?...and it's a valid question. Even the 'requirements' of MR6 ask..."...Identify opportunities for increased recycling and waste diversion". So you'll need to come up with a provable plan to do so...enact it and prove it within the performance period

Regards, Barry

Barry
Thank you for your prompt reply. I think I can get this to work out.

Its this weird "unicycling" bin we have, i'm trying to parse out all the details. We can get separate bins, but it might cost more. I am working on that now. I will let you know what I come up with.
Cheers, Ryan
Barry

With your suggestion in mind, I called our waste hauler and found our unicycling bin has a diversion rate of about 30%! Terrible. I called up and switched our service to two smaller bins, one for garbage and one for recycling. This will allow us to monitor how much we recycle by volume, and as an added bonus is going to save the company $800 a year.

Thanks for the insight, Ryan