Hello!
The LEED Online Form has three option under Disposal Method: Commingled, Diverted, Landfill Waste. By choosing "commingled", you can input the percentage diverted.
In my understanding, simply separating a waste stream on the site won't make this stream a 100 recycled. It does not mean it is commingled though.
Is it common practice to select commingled in order to input the diversion rate for any material that has a recycle rate under 100%?
Adrian Arenas
Architect, Sustainability Consultant, LEED AP BD + CAECOM
10 thumbs up
May 11, 2018 - 9:28 am
Dionisio,
Im not sure i understand your question,
but Generally, commingled waste is when you leave recyclables mixed on site and a recycling company will take everything from your site and will track percentages for each waste material. Generally pursued by projects which don't have enough space for on site separation.
The other strategy is to separate on site and perhaps have different recycling companies for different waste materials.
You can pursue the option that is best suited for your project. And yes separating on site wont do, you have to demonstrate the diverted waste reaches a satisfactory final destination (recycling facility).
Dionisio Franca
DirectorWoonerf Inc.
30 thumbs up
May 13, 2018 - 8:41 pm
Hi Adrian,
Thank you for your reply! I'm aware of the meaning of commingled and separated wastes/recyclables streams. I worked with construction management early in my career.
The issue is: Separating recyclables does not make them 100% recyclable. The LOL form automatically considers that everything separated is 100% recycled.
The question is: How do people correctly account for them in the LOL form.
RETIRED
LEEDuser Expert
623 thumbs up
May 14, 2018 - 9:33 am
Dionisio - Yes - you can use commingled and less than 100% and put the non-recycled delta in as landfilled waste.
Another way to address where some of the separated or commingled material is actually landfilled waste is to include that portion as landfilled waste. Then subtract that landfilled portion from the "diverted" total and report all that is actually diverted as 100%.
Either way - have good back up. And remember that if you use commingled you have to provide back up as part of your submitted documentation.
Dionisio Franca
DirectorWoonerf Inc.
30 thumbs up
May 15, 2018 - 12:59 am
Thank you very much, Michelle!