We've attempted to earn an innovation credit by citing the owner's initiative to recycle materials (batteries, motor oil, electronics, cooking oil, and other fluids from industrial equipment) beyond those required by MRp1. The review team has directed us to meet the requirements found in LEED Interpretation 3920: 1. average recycling rate of 40%; 2. double MRp1 materials benchmark (by weight, volume, or recycling rate); and 3. don't include landscape/regulated waste in calculations.
The landscape and regulated waste requirement is straightforward, but I would like clarification on the other two. Is a waste audit needed to determine the recycling rate? Since it is very unlikely that the additional materials would double the MRp1 benchmark by volume or weight, doubling the recycling rate seems like the only viable option. Am I right to assume this essentially means that if 40% is the average recycling rate for the materials required by MRp1, then a rate of 80% of additional materials diverted from the waste stream would qualify for the credit?
Any suggestions are appreciated.