SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS

Asset Classes

Focus Area

Custodial and Waste

Topic

Waste Audit and Measurement

Question #

P5.3 – Bin-sizing

Question

Is there evidence of bin right-sizing as recycling and reuse programs are established and efficiencies are required with changing volumes across waste streams?

Applicability

All asset classes
Owner/landlord occupied building
Tenant occupied building – waste managed by the owner/landlord

Answer & Scoring

  • Yes = Points as indicated below

Select all that apply:

      • Regular visual assessments = 1 point
      • Sensors installed = 2 points
      • Corrective actions implemented = 2 points
  • No = 0 points
  • Not applicable – Tenant occupied building: Waste managed by the tenant = 0/0

Max of 5 points

Requirements

  1. Evidence of a monitoring system for fullness levels, either through regular visual inspections or sensor technology
  2. Demonstrate corrective action taken to adjust schedules and/or bin sizes

IoT technology is more accurate and offers more benefits (such as the identification of contamination in bins and data trend lines) but could be considered proprietary. On-site visual assessments to ensure bin right sizing will also be awarded points.

Documentation

  • Photos of bin fullness levels from visual assessment or sensors
  • Correspondence regarding bin schedule or bin size adjustments

Suggested Lead

In-house, with third-party support

Value

  • For effective waste collection, bins should be sized appropriately to reflect the production of each waste stream at the building
  • If bins are too small, more frequent waste pickups will be needed, leading to unnecessary operational costs and Greenhouse Gas emissions. If bins are too large, they take up more space in the building than is required
  • Regularly inspect bin fullness or implement sensors in bins to monitor fullness to ensure that bins are appropriately sized
  • Take corrective actions if bins are found to be too large or too small to improve waste collection practices

Description

Optimization of service schedules can occur with the assistance of bin sensors (IoT Technology), or by on-site monitoring of fullness levels on the days prior to pick-up and adjusting based on these visual assessments.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions result when eliminating unnecessary truck trips to sites, and programs are better utilized when schedules reflect correct projected volumes. The goal is to reduce waste and reduce the number of waste pick-ups needed.

References

Adapted BB 3.0 Question

New in BOMA BEST 4.0