Section 2: Individual LEED Credit Reviews
LEED MR Prerequisite 1:
locations such as pantries, lounges, and
cafeterias)
Storage & Collection of
How often recyclables will be collected from
each floor
Recyclables
Where recyclables will be collected and stored
prior to pick-ups
How frequent the recyclables will be hauled
Intent
based on municipal recycling programs and
private recycling haulers
Facilitate the reduction of waste generated by
building occupants that is hauled to and
These considerations will typically determine the
disposed of in landfills.
areas required for an effective recycling program.
Requirement
Basis for Cost Assumption
Provide an easily accessible area that serves the
entire building and is dedicated to the separation,
GSA's P100 requires trash rooms adjacent to
collection and storage of materials for recycling
loading docks or service entrances that are
including (at a minimum) paper, corrugated
adequately sized for three days' worth of trash, and
cardboard, glass, plastics, and metals.
for sorting paper, glass, and metals for recycling.
To meet the LEED criteria, corrugated cardboard
and plastics also need to be included. For the
Cost Impact = 2
purposes of this study, it is assumed that these
additional materials can be accommodated in GSA
projects at no additional cost.
1
2
3
4
5
P100 also requires that project teams analyze the
GSA
No
Low
Moderate
High
refuse removal, and recycled materials storage and
Standard
premium,
premium
premium
premium
removal, of their proposed building. This satisfies
(no cost)
psble svgs
(<50K)
(50-150K)
(>150K)
the LEED requirement for project teams to justify
the square footage of the recycling areas provided.
Practical Applications
Summary of First Cost Impacts
To achieve the prerequisite, design teams need to
provide dedicated areas in a building for sorting,
storing, and collecting recyclables. While the
Courthouse (New Construction, 262,000 GSF)
LEED program does not mandate minimum
recycling storage areas, design teams must
No identified cost premiums.
demonstrate that the areas provided are large
enough to handle the recycling material volumes
Office Building (Modernization, 306,600 GSF)
anticipated from the building occupants. The
LEED 2.1 Reference Guide also provides recycling
No identified cost premiums.
area guidelines based on an ordinance from the city
of Seattle. An area of at least 500 square feet, for
instance, is recommended for buildings over
Additional Considerations
200,000 square feet in area (such as the Courthouse
and Office Building models used in this study).
None identified.
Overall, design teams and building
owners/building managers need to consider:
Synergistic Credits
How recyclables will be collected from
None identified (with construction cost impacts).
individuals on the various floors of a building
(e.g., bins at each desk and bins in central
GSA LEED COST STUDY
90
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