SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

Asset Classes

Focus Area

Custodial and Waste

Topic

Baseline Practices

Question #

P4.0b – Waste Reduction and Diversion Policy

Question

Is a Waste Reduction and Diversion Policy in place at the building?

Applicability

All asset classes
Tenant occupied building – waste managed by the tenant

Answer & Scoring

  • Yes – this is a baseline requirement
  • Not applicable – Owner/landlord occupied building OR Tenant occupied building: Waste managed by the owner/landlord = 0/0

Requirements

  1. The Policy must include a statement committing the organization or building to continuous improvement in the reduction and diversion of waste. Address the prevention, diversion, and management of solid waste generated as a result of the following:
      • Day-to-day activities from all waste producing areas, including food service and retail; and
      • Periodic events such as conferences, catered meetings and functions, training, tenant relocation activities, construction, renovation and demolition projects, fit ups, etc.
  2. The policy must be signed by the building manager, dated within the last 12 months.

Demonstration of implementation is not required, nor is building-specific information.

The contamination of recyclable material does not disqualify this requirement, though continued contamination should be addressed in the Waste Reduction Work Plan.

Off-site sorting such as at a transfer station from a single common receptacle does not qualify as source-separation in the context of the BOMA BEST application.

Documentation

Suggested Lead

In-house: Facility Maintenance, Building Manager/Policy Makers

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
  • Develop and implement a Waste Reduction and Diversion policy to reduce the amount of the waste that is sent to landfill
  • Prioritize waste prevention to reduce the overall amount of waste produced at the building

Description

The Waste Reduction and Diversion Policy represents a commitment from the organization or building management to continuously improve performance regarding the reduction and diversion of solid waste.

References

None

Adapted BB 3.0 Question

Question BEST Practice 12(B) – Is a Waste Reduction and Diversion Policy in place at the building?