LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design)
When thinking about waste, generally it is thought that all waste is deposited in a landfill. The reality of it is that the waste our world produces is divided up into categories. Conducting and interpreting a waste audit allows for a more thorough understanding of what makes up an organization’s complex waste profile.
Waste audits
Waste Audits are performed to track the types and quantities of wastes being generated at a facility by building occupants, or during construction, renovation or demolition projects. They can be detailed, with data on specific functional areas, or generalized for an entire building or group of buildings.
REDUCTION WORK PLANS
Based on the findings of the Waste Audit (actual daily or weekly measurement of the quantity of each type of waste produced), a Waste Reduction Work Plan can be prepared to identify and evaluate waste reduction opportunities. Waste reduction opportunities consider the 3Rs hierarchy: Reduction; Reuse; then Recycling. Plans are typically performed for a variety of reasons:
- Environmental best practice in accordance with government recommendations
- To meet components of ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems or the LEED Green Building Rating System™
- To save money through waste minimization