The most common obstacle with this prerequisite is finding space to allocate for recycling storage. A basement, parking garage, or loading dock is ideal.
You don’t have to devote a specific square footage to recycling, but the LEED Reference Guide provides the following recommended areas based on building size. (See table.) However, you will have to provide a narrative describing how the area's dimensions were determined, and following the LEED recommendations provides a good basis for this.
If you can’t conduct a waste-stream audit, base your assessment on the building program. For example, an office might include paper, glass and plastic (for office paper and food waste). A retail space might need corrugated cardboard, paper and plastic (for cardboard delivery boxes, office paper and food waste).
If the base building does not provide recycling and your tenant space does not have sufficient area for all the required recyclable items, conduct a waste-stream audit to choose the three streams whose recycling will provide the most impact.
If the base building does not provide building-wide recycling, you will need to include an area for the storage of recycling of paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastic and metals in your tenant space.
If the base building has an existing recycling storage area for building-wide use and provides space for all five required materials, then you automatically meet this prerequisite. Simply document this in LEED Online.
Collection should be offered in areas that are convenient for occupants throughout the building, but this is not required for prerequisite compliance.
You don’t have to devote a specific square footage to recycling, but the LEED Reference Guide provides the following recommended areas based on building size. (See table.) However, you will have to provide a narrative describing how the area's dimensions were determined, and following the LEED recommendations provides a good basis for this.