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other suitable uses, which could skew results, while contaminated soil is typically classified as hazardous and managed under strict regulations, often requiring specialized disposal. Similarly, land-clearing debris, such as rocks and trees, is generally not landfilled due to its weight and is commonly diverted. Hazardous waste must follow regulatory guidelines for safe handling, disposal in lined landfills, or destruction to prevent environmental harm. This includes proper identification, labeling, and containment of hazardous materials, as well as transportation by certified handlers to facilities equipped to manage such waste.

Equation 1. Diversion rate

𝐷𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒= [𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙]

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑤𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 [ × 100]

SOURCE-SEPARATED MATERIAL

Project teams must identify materials that will be diverted from landfill and incineration facilities. Common C&D waste materials include concrete, metals, brick, wood, and cardboard. Depending on the project’s scope of work, additional sources may include carpet, ceilings, gypsum board, and furniture.

The project must account for source separation or salvage as a percentage of the total diversion in the achievement thresholds. This represents a percentage of the overall diversion amount for the project and is not in addition to the overall diversion rate.

Teams should target source separation where each homogeneous material is collected and sent to a specific recycling facility (or is sent for reuse). Source-separated materials in this way are not mixed with other materials, significantly reducing the contamination in recycling streams and leading to higher diversion rates overall for those recovered materials. Source separation involves segregating recyclable materials from mixed waste at the point of generation. This practice involves sorting materials such as metals, wood, and concrete directly at the construction or demolition site before they are commingled in a central recycling area or bin. Contractors should consider setting up dedicated areas on construction sites and clearly label and monitor bins for each source separated material to ensure proper collection. Teams are encouraged to prioritize the source separation of materials like carpet, ceiling tiles, gypsum board, and furniture. While these materials may not be specifically targeted, their significant environmental impacts make their diversion particularly important for reducing overall environmental harm.

SALVAGING MATERIALS

Successful salvaging begins with careful planning and requires a thorough audit of the existing materials and structures to identify which materials can be reclaimed. It is recommended to

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 446