using construction rubble for mine rehabilitation

Jutta - Sorry for my delayed response. I don't have any experience with your situation (waste used for mine reclamation) so I had to do some research. You should review LI ID #2191 - http://www.usgbc.org/leed-interpretations?keys=2191 - and see how it compares to what your waste management contractor is proposing. Based on what I read there, mine backfilling is not an equivalent means of accomplishing construction waste management; however, the ruling is based on potentially recyclable materials being in the mine fill material. If other LEEDusers have experience with this, please chime in.

I have a similar but slightly different variation on this theme. Our C&D Waste hauler typically uses the following process to "recycle" sheetrock. In a letter that I received from them: "xyz Landfill. In accordance with our Type III Construction and Demolition Debris Permit and Wood Waste Management Plan, we beneficially use the following C&D debris materials... Homogeneous loads of Concrete debris, roofing materials, and sheet-rock are acceptable for on-site use as road materials within the Permit Area. This reduces the need for virgin rock or stone to be mined and transported to our facility." Has anyone had this same type of "recycling" approved by LEED either through the CIR process or just by submitting such documented use from the recycler." Like they say, the waste is a direct substitution for virgin material they'd need to acquire for that same purpose. There are no known local sheetrock recyclers in the project area other than this facility above. Therefore, there are really no other local options to having the sheetrock recycled in other means and besides to grind the sheetrock up to use a soil amendment would only then require more energy to grind it whereas, the sheetrock used as road base requires less energy to use in that manner. Thank you,

Debra - My apologies for not getting back to you sooner as I was traveling for work. I also was hoping that if any other LEEDusers had direct experience with your situation they would chime in. The closest my experience comes to this is when waste concrete and masonry have been used by a landfill for its roads. (I've never seen sheet rock or roofing included.)I've not had a problem with this being accepted as it is diverted from the landfill and is replacing using virgin materials. I think you can utilize the information contained in the LEED Reference Guide and cited in various LEED Interpretations including LI ID #2256: "Any construction debris processed into a recycled content commodity which has an open market value (e.g. alternative daily cover material) may be applied to the construction waste calculation."

I agree. This is called "crushed base" here and it is always accepted. It's essentially making a stable layer under the road.

So just to make sure I have this correctly, Land clearing debris (brush, soil and rocks) is not viable for inclusion in this credit, but crushed concrete, masonry and asphalt are. As such, we can reuse demolished building foundations, walkways and drive surfaces as a crushed-base on site and the material would contribute the Construction Waste Management credit. Would it also contribute to any other credits?

Yes - you are correct. On-site demolished building foundations, walkways and drive surfaces that are reprocessed into base could also contribute to MRc4: Recycled Content and MRc5: Regional Materials. (Note: On (or off-site) salvaged materials that are reused without reprocessing would be counted under MRc3: Materials Reuse instead of MRc4.) For additional information on this topic, please refer to the LEED Reference Guide (Related Credits under MRc4 and MRc5 and Calculations under MRc5) and my post on July 30, 2016: http://www.leeduser.com/credit/NC-2009/MRc2?all-comments=true#comment-65845, which refers to additional posts/forums on reprocessed materials.