Wst 03a Operational waste

(non-residential, plus residential institutions)

For residential buildings, see Wst 03b Operational waste.

Number of credits available Minimum standards
1 Yes

Aim

To recognise and encourage the provision of dedicated storage facilities for a building's operational-related recyclable waste streams, so that this waste is diverted from landfill or incineration.

Assessment criteria

The following is required to demonstrate compliance:

One credit - Operational waste

1 Dedicated space is provided for the segregation and storage of operational recyclable waste volumes generated by the assessed building or unit, its occupants and activities. This space must be:
1.a Clearly labelled, to assist with segregation, storage and collection of the recyclable waste streams
1.b Accessible to building occupants or facilities operators for the deposit of materials and collections by waste management contractors
1.c Of a capacity appropriate to the building type, size, number of units (if relevant) and predicted volumes of waste that will arise from daily or weekly operational activities and occupancy rates.
2 Where the consistent generation in volume of the appropriate operational waste streams is likely to exist, e.g. large amounts of packaging or compostable waste generated by the building's use and operation, the following facilities are provided:
2.a Static waste compactors or balers; situated in a service area or dedicated waste management space
2.b Vessels for composting suitable organic waste resulting from the building's daily operation and use; OR adequate space for storing segregated food waste and compostable organic material prior to collection and delivery to an alternative composting facility
2.c Where organic waste is to be stored or composted on site, a tap is provided adjacent to or within the facility for cleaning and hygiene purposes.

Additionally for Residential institutions with self-contained dwellings only

3 Each dwelling has a provision of three internal storage containers, as follows:
3.a A minimum total capacity of 30 litres
3.b No individual container smaller than 7 litres
3.c All containers in a dedicated non-obstructive position
3.d The storage containers for recycling are provided in addition to non-recyclable waste storage.
4 Home composting facilities and a home composting information leaflet is provided within the kitchen area for each self-contained dwellings.

Additionally for Residential institutions with individual bedrooms and communal facilities only

5 The above storage requirements (criterion 3) for self-contained dwellings or bedsits are met for every six bedrooms.
6 The recyclable storage is located in a dedicated non-obstructive position in either:
6.a Communal kitchens OR
6.b Where there are no communal kitchens present, in a communal space such as communal lounges or utility areas.
7 Home composting facilities and a home composting information leaflet is provided within the kitchen area or communal space for each individual bedrooms and communal facilities self, bedsit or communal kitchen.

Checklists and tables

None.

Compliance notes

Ref

Terms

Description

Shell and core (non-residential and residential institutions only)

CN1

Applicable assessment criteria

Operational waste, criteria 1 and 2

Both options: All criteria relevant to the building type and function apply.

Additional criteria for residential institutions, criteria 3 to 7

Both options: These criteria are not applicable.

Refer to Appendix D – Shell and core project assessments for a more detailed description of the shell and core assessment options.

CN1.1

End-occupier not known. See criterion 2 If the end-occupier is not known, but the functions or areas of the assessed building suggest that large amounts of packaging or compostable waste is likely to be generated during the building’s operation, e.g. it is a retail or industrial project or contains a large catering facility, then an appropriately sized space and services or infrastructure to accommodate the relevant facilities must be provided. The facilities themselves do not necessarily need to be provided or installed to demonstrate compliance.

Residential - Partially fitted and fully fitted

CN2

Applicable assessment criteria - Single and multiple dwellings Both options: This issue is not applicable. 

Refer to Appendix E – Applicability of BREEAM New Construction to single and multiple dwellings, partially and fully fitted for a more detailed description of residential assessment options.
General

CN3

Determining if the dedicated space complies.

See criteria 1 and 2.

The design team demonstrates that the provision of waste management facilities for the assessed building is adequate given the building type, occupier (if known), operational function and likely waste streams and volumes to be generated.

Where it is not possible to determine what provision should be made, the following guide for minimum storage space provision should be used:

  1. At least 2m² per 1000m² of net floor area for buildings < 5000m²
  2. A minimum of 10m² for buildings ≥ 5000m²
  3. An additional 2m² per 1000m² of net floor area where catering is provided (with an additional minimum of 10m² for buildings ≥ 5000m²).

The net floor area should be rounded up to the nearest 1000m².

CN3.1

Extensions to existing buildings Where there are facilities within the existing building, these can be used to assess compliance. The scope of these facilities must be adequate to cater for the total volume of predicted recyclable waste arising from the new and existing buildings.

CN3.2

Multiple building assessments and buildings that form part of a wider estate.

See criterion 1.c.

Where the assessment applies to one or more buildings or units that are part of a wider estate or campus, the design team can choose to demonstrate compliance through the provision of dedicated centralised storage space and waste management facilities with the capacity to accommodate the recyclable waste material generated from all buildings and their activities.

CN3.3

Limited space or vehicle access for a compactor or baler. See criterion 2. For sites that have limited space for static installations, compliance can be assessed on the basis of the provision of adequate space for a smaller portable compactor or baler.

CN3.4

Internal storage areas Where the facilities are situated internally, vehicular gate heights and widths and manoeuvring and loading space must be sized to ensure ease of access for vehicles collecting recyclable materials.

CN3.5

General waste The area for storage of recyclable materials must be provided in addition to areas and facilities provided for dealing with general waste and other waste management facilities, e.g. compactors, balers and composters.

CN3.6

Small industrial units.

See criterion 1.

 For an industrial building or development or site consisting of a number of smaller units, each ≤ 200m² floor area, shared facilities that meet the above criteria for the building or site as a whole are sufficient to achieve this credit.

CN3.7

Shopping centres and retail parks.

See criterion 1.

 For shopping centres and retail parks there must be adequate space to cater for each tenant and their potential recyclable waste volumes. Tenants that occupy a large proportion of the centre, i.e. 'flagship tenants', must have their own dedicated compliant facilities. For smaller non-flagship tenant units, compliant central or common facilities on site or dedicated spaces for individual units will meet the assessment criteria for this BREEAM issue.

CN3.8

Automated waste collection systems These are accepted as a form of compliance as long as a management plan is in place, which can either be public (local authority) or private and requirements for separation are met.
Building specific

CN4

Home composting information leaflet (multi-residential buildings).

See criteria 3, 5, 6 and 7.

The leaflet must provide information on:

  • How composting works and why it is important;
  • The materials that can be composted (e.g. raw vegetable peelings and fruit, shredded paper, tea bags, etc.); and
  • Details of the operation and management plan for the communal composting scheme.

Where a green or kitchen waste collection scheme is in operation, the information leaflet provided by the local uthority is sufficient to meet the information leaflet criteria.

CN4.1

Residential institutions: supported living facility Where it is not possible to locate the recycling bins within a communal area, which is accessible to residents, for safety reasons (e.g. where the residents have mental health problems and free access to these facilities would pose significant risk of self-harm or harm to others) it is acceptable to locate them within a dedicated non-obtrusive position accessible to staff only, but in close proximity to the areas where recyclable waste material is generated.

Methodology

None.

Evidence

Criteria Interim design stage Final post-construction stage
All

Design drawings or relevant section or clauses of the building specification confirming provision and scope of dedicated facilities (on site and off-site).

Project team meeting minutes or a letter confirming likely building waste streams and indicative volumes.

As design stage.

BREEAM Assessor’s site inspection report and photographic evidence confirming compliant installation.

Additional information

Relevant definitions

Accessible space
Accessible space is typically within 20m of a building entrance. Depending on the size of the building, site restrictions or tenancy arrangements, it may not be possible for the facilities to be within 20m of a building entrance. In such circumstances, judgment on whether the space is 'accessible' to the building occupants and vehicle collection must be made.
Automated waste collection system
Some companies now offer a fully automated underground system for the collection, sort and transport of waste. It allows for waste separation at the source, for different types of waste and from multiple locations, with enhanced hygienic, occupational health and safety standards. It also reduces the use of waste transport by lorries, reducing nuisance and CO₂ emissions, from fossil fuel consumption.
Dedicated non-obstructive position
An easily accessible cupboard under the sink or any other cupboard in the kitchen, next to the storage or likely area for storing non-recyclable waste, where practical. Where a kitchen cupboard location is not possible the bins can be located near to the kitchen, in a utility room or connected garage, for example.
Flagship or anchor tenant
The largest and primary tenant within a retail development, typically department store type retailers.
Waste compactor or baler
A machine that is designed to compress waste streams in order to improve storage and transport efficiency.

Other information

Recyclable storage

The following footprint dimensions can act as a guide when determining size and accessibility criteria for the recyclable storage space:

  1. Compactor dimensions: about the size of one car parking bay; 4.8 x 2.4m
  2. Skip: the footprint of an 8 and 12 cubic yard skip measures 3.4m x 1.8m; therefore allow a minimum of 2.0m width and 4.0m length or 8m² area for the storage and access of such containers
  3. Wheeled bins: 360 litre = 0.86m x 0.62/660L= 1.2m x 0.7m/1100L = 1.28m x 0.98m
  4. Roll-on/roll-off containers: allow a minimum of 6.1m x 2.4m
  5. Vehicle access: the following are dimensions for lorry types that are typically used to collect waste. Therefore gate heights and widths should not be smaller than these measurements:
    1. Dustcart: medium capacity; length = 7.4m, height = 4m, width 3.1m
    2. Skip lorry: length = 7m, height = 3.35m, width 3.1m.

Consideration must also be given to any other types of vehicle requiring access to this area, e.g. lorries for roll-on/roll-off containers.

Recycling bins

Individual recycling bins located at convenient locations throughout the building are necessary to maximise recycling rates.