SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

Asset Classes

Focus Area

Custodial and Waste

Topic

Waste Audit & Measurement

Question #

P4.3 – Diversion Rate

Question

What is the building’s most recent diversion rate?

Applicability

Applicable to Office, Healthcare, Enclosed Shopping Centre, Universal and Multi-Unit Residential buildings

Answer

Indicate which range is representative of your building’s waste diversion rate:

      • 90%  and higher
      • 75 to <90%
      • 60 to <75%
      • 40 to <60%
      • Lower than 40%

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.

Requirements

  1. Provide yearly data on weights of all waste streams collected. Some streams will have weights provided from haulers, while others will need to be approximated using number of pick-ups (schedules), the volume of the bins (cubic yards) and fill-level data if available

  2. The diversion rate must be based on 12 months of data. Data cannot be older than the past three (3) years.

  3. If available, included weights of tenant-managed bins. Indicate if weights are approximated or actual
  4. Calculate waste diversion as follows: [A / (A+B)] x 100

    A = Annual weight of all materials currently diverted from disposal

    B = Annual weight of all materials currently sent for disposal (includes landfill, incineration and EFW)

  5. Express the annual weight in metric tonnes or kilograms.

Documentation

If information is not contained in Waste Audit, then provide:

  • Table showing (at least) the last 2 years of whole building waste data

  • Calculation method used to determine the 12-month average

  • Narrative of approach, waste weight vs volume, conversion factors applied, etc.

Adapted BB3 Question

Question 08.02.01 and 08.02.02 – What is the building’s Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3Rs) diversion rate? What is the building’s capture rate?

Suggested Lead

In-house

References

GRESB: See Appendix 7 on estimation methodology

Also see recent GRESB update to Appendix 7 that states that sensor fill-levels can be used, or bin can be assumed at 100% if fill-levels are not known (page 21)

Crosswalk

3R Certified

Other Notes

If waste audits were not conducted during Covid, reference the last Waste Audit that was completed before Covid.

Calculating a yearly diversion number from yearly pick-up data is considered the preferred method over the Waste Audit diversion number. Where weights are provided from haulers, these can be submitted and indicated as real weights. Where the number of hauls and bin sizes per stream are available only, these will be converted to weights using EPA densities and assuming full bins (unless reliable fill-level data can be provided).

For density of material, the EPA provides standard densities for each material type which is the current highest standard in the industry: https://www.epa.gov/smm/volume-weight-conversion-factors-solid-waste to convert volume to weight

Scoring

1, 2, 3, or 4 Points

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