Recycling area for MR Pre-req in a small historical building

Veronica—According to the Reference Guide, USGBC never intended this Prerequisite to regulate the size of the recycling area: “The intent is for the design team to size the facilities appropriately for the specific building operations.” In practice, however, no matter how much area you provide, be prepared to justify your choices. The City of Seattle developed the recycling space recommendations in Table 1 for commercial buildings. A small hotel in Ecuador might have very different recycling needs and capabilities. Start by estimating how much waste your hotel is likely to produce. Estimate the volume of plastic, metal, glass, paper, cardboard, or other recyclables to expect. Find out from local recycling facilities what they require for separation, storage, and pickup. Use this information to determine how much space you require for both recyclables and trash. This may involve one or more areas. Remember too that you can reduce the necessary space by increasing the frequency of pickup, through waste reducing practices and purchasing, and with creative space-saving sorting, storage, and transport solutions. Include all such relevant information in the narrative in the LEEDonline MRp1 form.