In developing countries like Egypt the construction waste management is performed by small traders buying scraps from the contractors to resell it to factories and manufacturers for recycling. Most of these traders are illiterate and have no companies work through. They just make a deal with the contractors to pass by the project site and load specific materials. Consequently, we have no papers record the final destination of any recyclables. All what we have are the permit documents the contractors issued for these traders to allow them to get out the project site with the scraps. My question is; as the scrap traders have no official company papers and are illiterate has no signature, is it enough to get a confirmation letter from the contractor for the waste types and quantities sold to each trader for recycling?

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LEEDuser Expert

472 thumbs up

Mon, 05/13/2013 - 20:19

Abdulrahman - Your logic for documentation is clear; however, just because the traders picked up the waste does not mean it does get recycled, does it? It could be discarded after they leave the site. I see your challenge to be to prove that the materials the traders actually pick up really get recycled. And the documentation that you suggest would just prove that certain quantities left the jobsite - not that they got recycled. While I am not in the position to say what GBCI reviewers will accept for backup, I would suggest trying to look at the ultimate disposal of the material - which I understand may be difficult. And that you contact GBCI via Contact Us - http://www.gbci.org/org-nav/contact/Contact-Us/Project-Certification-Questions.aspx - to get direct guidance on the situation. If anyone has experience with this from an international perspective, please chime in.

Abdulrahman Sherazy

LEED AP bd+c - Sr. Architect

Midrar Development Management

LEEDuser Basic Member

16 thumbs up

Tue, 05/14/2013 - 10:40

Thank you Michelle for your quick reply. The contractor assured that the traders recycle the waste they buy from him for two reasons: First.. they used to work with him and as a big contractor in the region he knows the traders well and what they do with the scrap. Second.. the traders pay for all scrap they pick up from the contractor's sites and it is obvious they will never pay for something to discard. So what only in my hand is to get a confirmation letter from the contractor affirming the final destination of all scrap he sold to his traders. What do you think?

LEEDuser Expert

472 thumbs up

Tue, 05/14/2013 - 13:59

Thanks for these clarifications. Information on the contractor’s experience with the traders would be useful to include in the letter. Including in the letter the contractor affirmation of the final destination of the scrap would make things more similar to the documentation in the U.S. Please know that this is just my professional opinion and GBCI has the final say on what it will accept but I think you are on the right track.

Tim Bush

Sustainability Manager (Victoria)

Norman Disney & Young

LEEDuser Basic Member

0 thumbs up

Mon, 05/18/2015 - 04:48

Hi Abdulrahman, Would you mind providing us with an update on your project? Did you find a documentation methodology that the GBCI was prepared to accept?

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