This credit involves implementing the prerequisite policy you developed and demonstrating actual waste diversion achievement over the performance period. Teams must track waste generation and diversion for both ongoing consumables and durable goods, and achieve the minimum diversion rate for both to earn the credit (50% for ongoing waste, 75% for durable goods waste). 

Teams should maintain and improve recycling programs for all materials covered by this credit. You may have to develop a new system for managing the data involved – some buildings don’t keep details about their waste stream, and many that do use tracking systems don’t record the specific data points required by LEED. 

Consider tracking data on a monthly basis to determine whether your program is meeting its goals or if there are additional opportunities to improve recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

What’s New in LEED v4

• This credit combines two LEED 2009 credits: MRc7: Solid Waste Management—Ongoing Consumables and MRc8: Solid Waste Management—Durable Goods. The thresholds for each credit set in LEED 2009 are maintained in v4.
• The credit now requires 100% recycling of mercury-containing lamps.
• Furniture and furnishings are now covered under the facility maintenance and renovations credit.
• The threshold for battery recycling has been raised from 80% to 100%.

Readiness Review Questions

• What materials do you currently recycle, compost, donate, or otherwise divert from landfill disposal? Can these programs be improved or expanded? 

• Who are the haulers that need to be considered? Many buildings use specialized haulers for certain recyclables, such as shredded paper or electronic waste. Can waste hauler(s) provide accurate and timely information on the amount of landfilled and recycled waste each month?
• How is waste disposal and diversion being tracked currently? Do you need to set up a new tracking system to monitor diversion rates? Who will be responsible for collecting this data? 

• Would it be useful to conduct a waste audit, per the procedure outlined in MRp1, to assess the effectiveness of your recycling program and identify areas for improvement? 

• What can you do to foster better diversion rates for the building? Consider how things like collection bin design and location, occupant communication strategies and signage, custodial training, and access to timely and accurate hauler data can all affect your diversion rate.
• How do the individual tenants and occupants fit into the solid waste management puzzle, and what can you do to encourage them to participate?