PERFORM Performance Metrics | Waste
Waste
Waste is a critical component of a real estate portfolio's sustainability efforts. Mismanaged waste can have detrimental impacts on the environment; pollution from litter can cause water contamination and damage ecosystems; improperly stored landfill waste can leak contaminants into the soil and water; and even properly managed landfills can have long-term maintenance consequences and emit significant quantities of methane leading to increased GHG emissions. Waste reduction strategies for portfolios can reduce these impacts while demonstrating a commitment to environmental stewardship and fostering circular economies. Waste is also a sign of operational inefficiencies (e.g., over-purchasing, manufacturing errors, etc.). Better management strategies can help organizations significantly reduce unnecessary costs by reducing waste.
One metric is available in the “Waste” category:
Total Waste Diversion
Total Waste Diversion
INTENT
To reduce the amount of waste generated by portfolio occupants and disposed of in landfills and incinerators; to promote reuse, and recycling; to conserve natural resources for future generations.
METRIC DEFINITION
Total Waste Diversion
Total percentage of waste that is diverted away from landfills, incineration, and the environment as compared to the total waste generated. Diverted waste includes waste that is reduced/avoided, reused, composted and/or recycled.
UNITS OF MEASURE
% Diversion, calculated by dividing the total weight or volume of diverted waste by the total weight or volume of generated waste.
VERIFICATION SCOPE
Performance Approach A (absolute performance): Verification of Total Waste Diversion percentage across the defined portfolio for the reporting year.
Performance Approach B (performance change): Verification of the change in Total Waste Diversion from a baseline year across the defined portfolio.
REQUIREMENTS
Provide the total waste diverted (by weight or volume) from landfill and incineration (including waste-to-energy), and the total waste generated across all properties in the defined portfolio for the reporting year (Performance Approach A) and for a baseline year and the reporting year (Performance Approach B).
Waste diversion rates should be determined and calculated in accordance with the principles and methodologies outlined in one of the following standards. If a different standard, framework or tool is used, additional information confirming the similarity in methodology must be provided.
Diversion strategies can include waste prevention (reduction), reuse, recycling, composting and other processing technologies.
All non-hazardous discards generated within the portfolio must be included in the material scope. Hazardous material, as defined by the local jurisdiction, state, or country, should be handled following appropriate rules and excluded from calculations, as should any wastewater, liquids and sludges.
All material generated during regular operations as well as those generated during episodic activities (e.g., construction, demolition, special events, etc.) must be included in reported data.
Material may be tracked by weight or volume, but the method must be used consistently across all data provided. Using actual weights of the materials is the preferred and most accurate method of diversion tracking, which can be done by either gathering documents from vendors or service providers (e.g., weight tickets, reports invoices, etc.) or by gathering direct weights using an in-house scale. If actual weights are unavailable, the use of guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a state agency or similar reference for volume to weight conversions are acceptable. If estimates are used, an explanation of the methodology used to obtain these estimates must be provided.
VERIFICATION EVIDENCE
Portfolio-Level Documentation:
Policies: Provide documentation (e.g., policies, narratives, reports, letter from CEO, etc.) indicating the organizations’ commitment to waste reduction and diversion including specific targets and goals set.
Methodology: Provide documentation describing the waste diversion strategy and methods used for tracking materials and waste, including:
Estimations and calculations used in material tracking when accurate data was not available.
The calculation methodology used for determining the portfolio’s diversion rate.
The teams responsible for implementing the waste diversion strategies.
The teams responsible for data collection and reporting across the portfolio.
Template tracking mechanism used to complete the tracking in a consistent manner.
For Performance Approach B, provide documentation that summarizes the baseline year, including:
Reporting period for the baseline year.
Methods for determining the selected baseline year.
Letter of attestation from senior/executive leadership or the individual/entity calculating the waste diversion confirming that the baseline year data were calculated in a similar manner as the reporting year OR third-party verification of baseline year data. If baseline year data was previously verified by GBCI, this evidence is not required.
Property-Level Documentation:
Property-Level Data: Utilizing the PERFORM Property-Level Data Form, provide the waste generation and diversion data for every property in the portfolio for the reporting year (Performance Approach A) and baseline year and reporting year (Performance Approach B), if applicable. Alternative documentation (e.g., spreadsheets prepared for internal tracking or other reporting entities like GRESB, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, etc.) may be provided if it includes the same information as required in the PERFORM Property-Level Data Form.
Property-Level Sample Documents: Provide the following documentation for a sample of SQRT(n) properties, where ‘n’ is the total number of properties in the portfolio. A list of properties selected for sampling will be provided during the portfolio creation process via the Multiple Property Upload Template.
For each sampled property, provide supporting documentation that verifies values listed in the diversion tracking data sheet for at least one month, including invoices that document weight, weight tickets, tracking documents, service contracts or any report from the service provider. Submitted documentation must clearly state the name and address of the property, and the date range which the documents address. Ensure the property is included in the PERFORM Property-Level Data Form and that the documentation date is within the reporting year from the time of submission or verification. All supporting documentation must verify service for a single selected month and not a range of months based on each service.
If applicable, documentation showing achievement of TRUE certification or compliance with the LEED v4 O+M Solid Waste Management credit may be provided in lieu of the property-level documents.
CALCULATION GUIDANCE
Diversion Rate:
The Diversion Rate is calculated using the following formula:
TWD = Total waste diverted, including through reduction, reuse, composting, recycling or other diversion methods, expressed as a weight or volume. TWG = Total waste generated, including landfill, waste-to-energy, incineration, and diverted waste, expressed as a weight or volume.
Performance Change:
Performance change between the reporting year and a baseline year is calculated for this metric using the percentage point change formula:
RY = Reporting Year BY = Base Year
Materials to Track:
A waste audit is recommended to determine which waste materials should be tracked.
Conduct a Waste Audit to Gather Data Audit all landfill/incineration/waste-to-energy bound materials, composted materials, and recycled materials to determine what materials are produced in each material stream.
Assess Audit Data Compile a report of the waste audit findings that shows the weight and percentage of diverted materials and materials not diverted in each property. Include recommendations in the report to reduce, reuse, recycle or compost more of the items found in the non-diverted material stream.
Calculating Weight:
Weights may be calculated using either the actual weight method or, when actual weights are unavailable, the estimated weight method:
Actual Weight Method Using actual weights of the materials is the preferred and most accurate method. They can be obtained in two ways:
Documents from service providers and vendors (e.g., weight tickets, reports, invoices, etc.) showing the dates of the pickups and the weights for each material stream.
Direct weights using an in-house scale.
Estimated Weight Method When actual weights are unavailable, weights may be estimated using one of these methods:
Volume to weight conversion: Use the volume of the material to estimate the weight of the material using established conversion factors from one of the following sources or an international equivalent:
Example of volume to weight conversion based on the service level of a specific waste stream (trash):
Calculating the volume per month: Trash is collected in a 4-cubic-yard bin three times per week 4 cubic yards x three pickups = 12 cubic yards/week x 4.33 weeks per month = 51.6 cubic yards of trash per month
Converting the volume rate per month to a weight rate per month: 51.6 cubic yards x 138 pounds/cubic yard = 7,120.8 pounds, assuming each cubic yard equals 138 pounds, based on a conversion factor chart 7120.8 pounds / 2000 pounds = 3.56 tons per month
Weights for a specific period are gathered and then extrapolated over a longer period.
Example weight calculation: Average weight for wood pallets = 23 pounds Number of pallets reused monthly = 100 Total weight of pallets reused monthly = 2300 pounds 2300 pounds / 2000 pounds = 1.15 tons
Example time-period calculation: Grasscycling weight for a week = 1350 pounds 1350 pounds x 4.33 weeks per month = 5845.5 pounds / month 5845.5 pounds / 2000 pounds = 2.93 tons / month
The weight of an item used to estimate the weight of multiple items.
Example calculation: 1 plastic bottle = 1 pound 32 plastic bottles per case = 32 pounds 100 cases = 3200 pounds 3200 pounds / 2000 pounds = 1.6 tons
Calculating Reduction:
Reduction, also known as source reduction or waste prevention, is calculated for materials that were consumed but are no longer being generated by implementing more efficient practices (such as switching from disposable coffee cups to reusable cups). To calculate reduction:
Measure the weight of the item that was used and discarded before the switch to the new item;
Multiply the weight of that item by the number of items no longer being used; and
Subtract the current weight total of the item from the weight total that is no longer being purchased to get the reduction.
Calculating Reuse:
Reuse calculations apply to items that are reused multiple times. To calculate reuse:
Measure the weight of the item being reused; and
Multiply the weight of the item by the number of items being reused.
REFERENCES
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Portfolio Manager Data Tracking System
TERMINOLOGY
Anaerobic digestion: A series of processes in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen, used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste and/or to generate energy. Anaerobic digestion typically captures methane created from microorganisms and uses it to generate heat or energy. Materials left after AD processing can be either composted or disposed.
Baseline Year: A specific year (12-month period) used to track changes in performance over time. (Source: ENERGY STAR and GHG Protocol).
Composting: The controlled aerobic decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms.
Diverted waste: The total amount of waste that is diverted away from landfills, incineration including waste-to-energy facilities and the environment. Diverted waste includes waste that is reduced, reused, composted, recycled, anaerobically digested or otherwise recovered using other processing technologies.
Grasscycling: A source reduction activity whereby grass clippings are left on the lawn after mowing to help hold moisture and add nutrients to the soil.
Hazardous Materials: Waste that can pose threats to public health or the environment. Four factors determine whether a substance is hazardous: ignitability (i.e., flammable), reactivity, corrosivity and toxicity. Local jurisdictions, states or countries determine ff a material is hazardous.
Highest and Best Use: Creating and keeping materials and products for a use as high on the zero-waste hierarchy as possible and in the useful loop as long as possible. Keeping materials from being downcycled where the number of future uses or options are limited.
Incineration: Reducing the volume of solid waste using an enclosed device and controlled flame combustion.
Landfill: A pollution control facility for the safe, sanitary and final disposal of solid waste on land.
Materials: Solid, non-hazardous discards that are generated within the boundaries of a property.
Recycling: A series of activities by which discarded materials are collected, sorted, processed, converted into manufacturing feedstock material and used in creation of new products. Excludes use of these materials as fuel substitute or for energy production.
Reuse: Use of a product or item in its original form more than one time.
Single Stream: Collection of unsorted recyclable materials from a property in a non-compartmentalized vehicle to be separated at a facility later. A single-stream program integrates the separation and collection components of recycling.
Source Reduction: Any action which causes a net reduction in the generation of solid waste. Source reduction includes, but is not limited to, reducing the use of non-recyclable materials, replacing disposable materials and products with reusable materials, reducing packaging, reducing the amount of yard wastes, establishing garbage rate structures with incentives to reduce waste tonnage and increasing the efficiency of the use of paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic, and other materials. Source reduction is synonymous with waste prevention.
Source Separation: The act of separating recyclable or reusable materials from other materials intended for disposal.
Waste Generation: The quantity of materials that enter the waste stream before recycling, landfilling or combustion takes place.
Waste-To-Energy (WTE): The conversion of solid waste into a usable form of energy, usually through combustion at extremely high temperatures.
Zero Waste: The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health. (Source: ZWIA/TRUE)
Zero Waste Hierarchy: (Source: ZWIA/TRUE)
Reuse of a product or material for its original purpose, an alternate purpose, or reuse of its parts.
Recycling of inorganic materials in closed loop systems or single-use applications.
Composting or mulching of organic materials to sustain soils, avoid use of chemical fertilizers, or reduce erosion and litter and retain moisture.
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