We have several steel items that have been purchased for our contractors project. Most of the items show a total recycled content, then a post- and pre-consumer recycled content. I need to know if the total recycled content is less than 100%, does the recycled value after factoring in the post- and pre-consumer %'s need to be multiplied by that total recycled content.
Example: $10,000 spent on steel with a post-consumer 83.6% and a pre-consumer 16.4%. but the product contains only 25% recycled material.
(or explaied a little differently: 25% recycled material and of that 83.6% is post- and 16.4% is pre-)
is the answer: $10,000(83.6% + 1/2 of 16.4%) then time 25% ?
that would only make sense since most steel is not from 100% recycled material (usually there are addatives).
Susan Walter
HDRLEEDuser Expert
1296 thumbs up
July 27, 2011 - 2:44 pm
So the total product value is $10,0000 and the product only contains 25% recycled content. So the total value of recycled materials is $2,500 (10000*.25). Of that $2,500, 83.6% is post consumer and is worth $2,090 (2500*.836) and the pre-consumer value is worth $410 (2055*.164).
Katie Ellsworth
43 thumbs up
July 27, 2011 - 2:48 pm
That's what I thought, but it doesn't seem to be spelled out like that in LEED anywhere (that i could find).
I'm looking for some documentation to show the contractor and others in our office. Any suggestions?
Susan Walter
HDRLEEDuser Expert
1296 thumbs up
July 28, 2011 - 2:31 pm
My first thought was to have you review the assembly recycled content calculation. But the situation isn't explicitly covered in the Reference Guide. You'll have to walk them through the same math. You could also try going to some of the 'greener' product companies websites and look for their LEED documentation for examples.
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
July 28, 2011 - 2:50 pm
I agree, it simply seems like math to me. I don't know of any additional policies, etc, that would explain this.
Keith Lindemulder
Environmental Business Development- LEED AP BD&CNucor Corporation
193 thumbs up
August 31, 2011 - 12:42 pm
Sorry for the late reply but I think there is some confusion here...Is the 25% recycled content statement something from the manufacture or are you thinking the 25% figure is what comes from the LEED default post-consumer recycled content rate for all steel?
If you have specific steel mill documentation which spells out the recycled content of the particular product, then the default of 25% does not apply since you have more specific information.