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conduct an early salvage assessment during building design to determine which tools and methods will be most valuable and effective for removal and preservation.

Projects that salvage materials offsite must send materials from the job to legitimate offsite salvage and reuse vendors or markets. Destinations must be locations that either directly reuse the materials or place them into a marketplace for distribution, sale, or reuse. Materials must not be stockpiled without the intention of being cycled back into use. Stockpile locations are acceptable only if they actively work to move materials through reuse cycles and provide documentation detailing what actions will be taken if the materials remain unused for an extended period. Even with best intentions, some salvaged materials do not find a home in a new project for various reasons and ultimately get recycled or disposed. This entropy of salvaged materials is acceptable so long as the majority of materials sent for salvage are intended to remain in circulation.

MIXED C&D MATERIALS

Mixed C&D materials, or commingled waste is recyclable material mixed in a single container that is sorted and processed at an off-site recycling facility.

Projects must obtain diversion rates from each commingled or mixed waste processing facility used. Facilities must operate legally and be regulated by state and local authorities. However, these authorities may not oversee diversion rates or the reporting of such rates, hence the need for certifications like Recycling Certification (RCI) or equivalent (as determined by USGBC) to ensure accurate tracking and reporting of diversion rates. Project teams are encouraged to use facilities verified by an approved third-party to achieve higher diversion rates. Facilities whose recycling rates are not third-party verified can only claim a maximum diversion rate of 35%.

Certified recycling facilities Projects must use a recycling facility that processes and recycles commingled (mixed) construction and demolition waste materials that have received independent third-party certification of their recycling rates. Qualified third-party organizations who certify facility average recycling rates include these minimum program requirements:

• The certification organization follows guidelines for environmental claims and third-party oversight, including ISO/IEC 17065 and relevant portions of the ISO 14000 family of standards.

• The certification organization is an independent third-party who continuously monitors certified facilities to ensure that they are operating legally and meeting the minimum program requirements for facility certification and recycling rates.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 447