Hi,

I have read the LEED requirements and comments regarding the exclusion of things like glass and aluminum scrap that are reincorporated into the same manufacturing process. However, I am unclear if this exception applies to a project I am currently working on.

I am working with a client whose family owns and operates a granite countertop fabrication shop. The process currently generates a lot of scrap pieces that are too small for countertops and are therefore currently being thrown out as garbage. Our client is interested in starting a separate company in which she would use the granite countertop scrap pieces to create different granite product lines (i.e. granite tiles for floor or backsplash) instead of them just being thrown out. Although it would be a separate company creating a different product line, the same fabrication shop and tools would be used for both the countertop pieces and the tile pieces. Eventually she would like to collect and incorporate scrap granite pieces (that would otherwise be thrown out) from other countertop fabrication shops as well.

My question is this: Would the proposed tile products made from the countertop scrap be considered as containing recycled content that would contribute to the achievement of LEED credits, since the scrap is currently being thrown out? Or would this be disqualified since it would just be using the same equipment to fabricate smaller pieces?

Thank you in advance!