855773644-LEED-v5-BD-C-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition - Page 458
Extracted Content
- Certification organizations shall certify to a protocol that was developed on a consensus basis for recycling facility diversion rates that is not in a draft or pilot program.
The methodology for calculating facility recycling rates:
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Must be developed with construction and demolition recycling industry stakeholders and be specific to the construction and demolition recycling industry;
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Must include a methodology that is applicable across broad regions (i.e., nationally); and,
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Must refer to a published and publicly available standard.
Data submitted by the facilities to the certification organization in support of the recycling rate is audited. At a minimum, the audit includes the evaluation of recyclable sales records, verification of facility sales into commodity markets, an assessment of downstream materials and how these materials are managed after they leave the site, monitoring off-site movement of materials, and a review of the facility’s customers’ weight tags information.
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Facilities submit data to the certification organization that supports the recycling rate, such as a mass balance recycling rate (tons in/tons out) for a 12-month period, or quarterly sorts completed and verified by an independent third-party entity.
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Breakdown of materials (by type and by weight), including analysis of supporting data relating to amounts (in tons) and types of materials received and processed at the facility.
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At a minimum, the third-party certifying organization conducts an on-site visit of the facility for the first-year certification, with subsequent site visits occurring at least once every two years, unless additional visits are deemed necessary by the certification organization. The site visit will:
o Examine how materials enter, are measured, deposited, processed/sorted, and exit
facility.
o Conduct interviews with key personnel and discuss how materials are managed after
they leave the site.
o Confirm equipment types and capacity.
o Observe and verify load/materials sorting and accuracy.
o Verify use and accuracy of scales including calibration frequency.
- Diversion rates shall adhere to these requirements:
o Measurements must be based on weight (not volume), using scales.
o Diversion rates must be available on a website and viewable by the general public.
U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 448