SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
Asset Classes
-
Offices
-
-
-
-
-
- Not applicable
-
-
-
-
Enclosed Shopping Centres
-
-
-
-
-
- Not applicable
-
-
-
-
Open Air Retail
-
-
- Not applicable
-
-
-
-
- Not applicable
-
-
-
-
Light Industrial
-
-
-
-
-
- Not applicable
-
-
-
-
Multi-Unit Residential Buildings
-
-
-
-
-
- Not applicable
-
-
- Not applicable
-
-
-
Health Care Facilities
-
-
-
-
-
- Not applicable
-
-
- Not applicable
-
-
-
Universal
-
-
-
-
-
- Not applicable
-
-
-
Focus Area
Custodial and Waste
Topic
Baseline Practices
Question #
P4.0a – Waste Audit
Question
Has a Waste Audit been completed for the building in the past three years?
Applicability
All asset classes
Owner/landlord occupied building
Tenant occupied building
Answer & Scoring
- Yes – this is a baseline requirement
- Not applicable – Tenant occupied building: Waste managed by the tenant
Requirements
- The audit must be conducted every three years, and waste sampling should take place over one day at a minimum
- The Waste Audit must address:
- The time period and duration of waste sampling
- The sample size representing a minimum of 10% of the building’s waste and recycling materials and reasons why the sample is representative
- Details specific to each stream and if each stream has an available program locally for collection for recycling or reuse
- How the waste data was categorized, evaluated and analyzed based on its composition (the site must be equipped with a minimum number of worktables, precise scales, and mobile containers for weighing the waste)
- The Waste Audit Report must include:
- Summary of the sampling protocol and methodology used
- Total of each waste stream and overall total waste
- Audit diversion rate
- Audit capture rate
- If data is extrapolated to represent annual waste weights or volumes, describe the calculation methodology used
- Summary of recommendations for improving waste diversion
- Suggested implementation plan for recommendations
- Credentials of third-party who conducted the audit
Waste audits conducted with the exclusive use of cameras in bins are not admissible.
At a minimum, a waste audit should be carried out every three years. Annual audits are recommended. Auditing is a scientific approach aimed at collecting precise data about the characteristics of waste, including its mass, composition, waste stream and methods of disposal. To be credible, auditing should be conducted using a trustworthy methodology. In addition, it should clearly establish the different criteria and methods of evaluation, as outlined in an initial protocol.
Documentation
- Custodial Effectiveness Assessment Report
- Credentials of person(s) conducting the assessments
- Photos, etc. demonstrating corrective actions addressed
- P4.0a – Waste Audit Template
Suggested Lead
Third-party: Waste Consultant
Value
- Worldwide, humans produce more garbage than we have the ability to process and manage. Reducing the amount of waste that enters landfills is an important component sustainability
- Engage a qualified professional to perform a waste audit to understand current waste management practices, benchmark the building’s waste production, and make recommendations to improve waste management practices
RELATED Questions:
Description
Improving waste management practices requires knowledge regarding the nature and mass of waste collected on-site. Often data provided by waste haulers is not always based on weighted data, making a reliable analysis of a building’s performance impossible. Regular auditing of the waste generated on a site is therefore recommended to gain a more accurate understanding of the volume of waste generated, size of different waste streams and where waste is taken once it leaves the building site.
References
Adapted BB 3.0 Question
Best Practice 13 – Has a Waste Audit been completed for the building in the past three years?