For building owners and operators seeking LEED certification, it’s understood every little point counts toward achieving accreditation. While some of these points may become time, labor and budget intensive, other options simply involve small adjustments to everyday jobsite operation.

Jobsite recycling falls into the latter category. A small but important part of the U.S. Green Building Council’s newly revised LEED v3 guidelines, jobsite recycling is often a time, labor and cost effective way to secure LEED certification credits.

Jobsite recycling falls within LEED’s “Materials and Resources” category, the intent of which is to encourage construction managers, contractors, building owners, interior designers and architects to more closely consider the environmental impact of their design and construction choices. Under the revised LEED v3 guidelines, this category is worth a total of 14 points.

To even qualify for the points awarded within the materials and resources category, the building in question must include in its design a dedicated, easily-accessed area where recyclable materials — paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics and metals — can be collected and stored. The next steps in achieving LEED certification points in the “Materials and Resources” category happen during the construction phase: construction waste management and material reuse.

There are several common ways to recycle on the jobsite, but there are also some less obvious choices construction managers can make, including:

Construction waste management (1-2 points)
Reducing construction waste helps divert construction and demolition debris from landfills and redirects recyclable materials back to the manufacturing process or to appropriate sites. According to the USGBC, requirements in this category include:

Recycle and/or salvage nonhazardous construction and demolition debris.

Develop and implement a construction waste management plan that, at a minimum, identifies the materials to be diverted from disposal, and dictates whether the materials will be sorted onsite or at the recycling facility.

Diverting 50 percent of jobsite waste will earn one point. Diverting 75 percent will earn two points. Standard materials like paper, cardboard, glass, plastics and metals do apply. In addition, the remnants of brick, concrete, drywall, insulation, carpet, porcelain and ceiling tiles can all be recycled. Excavated soil and land-clearing debris do not contribute to this credit.

In some cases, it will be easy to determine how best to recycle construction materials like those noted above. For example, paper, plastics and glass can be transported to a regional recycling center. “Clean” concrete — concrete not contaminated by wood, paper or other debris — can be ground for use in new concrete, or can be crushed and used as the gravel base for a parking lot or driveway.

More creative methods are required to recycle less traditionally recycled materials. For example, intact bricks can be sold to wholesale yards that clean the bricks and sell them to smaller construction projects. Gypsum drywall remnants can be sold to gardening and/or landscaping centers, which then grind up the drywall and use it as a soil additive. Porcelain can also be ground up and used for fill, while several major carpet and ceiling manufacturers have recycling programs in place for remnants.

Materials Reuse (1-2 points)

In addition to reducing construction debris, points are also given for reusing building materials and products that reduce waste. Applying for LEED credits against this guideline includes the use of salvaged, refurbished or reused materials. One point is awarded to projects that reuse 5 percent of the total value of materials on the project, based on cost. Two points are awarded for reusing 10 percent.

There is a fine line between the items that contribute to this credit, and those that do not. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing components and specialty items such as elevators and equipment do not contribute. Support beams and posts, doors and door frames, flooring, paneling, masonry, decorative items and cabinetry would, however, apply.

Tips for jobsite recycling success

When working on a project that will seek LEED certification, it is essential to keep extremely detailed records of compliance for the review process. Here are some tips that have helped Danis Building Construction secure LEED certification on several projects:

· Utilize an in-depth pre-construction planning process to identify opportunities for recycling on the jobsite.

· Educate jobsite workers on construction policies and procedures. Many materials, like concrete, have to be free of debris in order to qualify for recycling, making it essential that site personnel understand what qualifies as waste and what qualifies as recyclable.

· Use separate containers for waste and recycling. Consider taking this a step further by posting materials that qualify as waste and recycling on the outside of each container, or using color-coded containers to assist the recycling process.

· Setup waste and recyclables bins for workers to sure during lunch and break times. Doing so will foster a cultural shift towards greater environmental responsibility.

· Work with manufacturers to see what programs they have in place to assist in the recycling of materials.

Recycling on the jobsite quickly adds up, both in terms of diverting waste from landfills and obtaining LEED certification. By remaining dedicated to jobsite recycling processes, you could get that extra point or two that secures certification.