How do I calculate the required 'expected volumn of recycling' my project will produce?
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CI-2009 MRp1: Storage and Collection of Recyclables
How do I calculate the required 'expected volumn of recycling' my project will produce?
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Alejandra Feliciano
LEED AP BD+CArchitects Smith Metzger
38 thumbs up
January 14, 2011 - 5:28 pm
I actually have the same question. And I do not think 'volume' refers to the size of the room, but to the size of the bin.
The forms asks:
"Describe the dedicated recycling storage areas in the project space. Include the size of the area, accessibility, and expected volume for the project space, as well as collection frequency. Demonstrate that recycling storage areas are appropriately sized and located."
How do you go about estimating the volume of recyclable waste occupants will produce per collection period? This is the only way you can prove you're sizing your collection bins appropiately.
Has anyone done this?
Lisa Marshall
Sustainability ManagerDNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability
61 thumbs up
January 17, 2011 - 1:37 pm
We have never had to calculate the estimated "volume" of recyclable waste occupants would produce. We have only provided an "appropriate" amount of storage space to collect recyclables. Has a reviewer made this comment to what you submitted? If a reviewer specifically asked for this I would survey a similar client with similar space usage and get an idea of what their waste volume is and use that number. But I doubt a reviewer would ever ask for this information, as the reference guide does not provide guidance on how to make this calculation.
Howard Williams
VP/General ManagerConstruction Specialties, Inc
14 thumbs up
January 21, 2011 - 10:28 am
We use 40-gallon recycling receptacle/containers placed in various areas within an office of 80 people.
1 for paper
1 for alum
1 for glass
1 for plastic
Cleaning crew nightly transfers to larger collection area accessed by recycling company.
Based on my visual observations, the daily volume is rarely more than each @ 1/8 full.
(No, I don't have a recycling fetish, just work late and usually see the cleaning crew dealing with it.)
Safe estimate: 5 gal/day @ 80 people = .06 gal. per person per type recycling container.
This is what we're using as the calculation for our own new offices.
Nina Tallering
Senior Consultant, LEED FacultyGreen Building Services, Inc
9 thumbs up
April 26, 2011 - 5:32 pm
Lisa, I did get this question from a review team. On my most recent project, the review team pended MRp1 because my narrative did not indicate the estimated volume. I have worked on a number of LEED projects and found this to be an odd question... but the credit form does request it. I'm going to use Howard's methodology to address my review comments. Thanks!