part e: waste data integrity rating...

OPERATIONAL WASTE GUIDELINES:procurement, management and reporting

PART E: WASTE DATA INTEGRITY RATING PROTOCOL

betterbuildingspartnership.com.au

BETTER BUILDINGS PARTNERSHIP OPERATIONAL WASTE GUIDELINES 3

Operational waste is an area of opportunity for better management, measurement and outcomes.

The Better Buildings Partnership (BBP or Partnership) recognises the importance of waste as

a material with importance and value to tenants and occupants due to its environmental and

economic impacts. The Partnership has created these guidelines with the intention of improving the

outcomes of operational waste in buildings.

These guidelines were developed with the expertise of the Better Buildings Partnership waste technical

working group members, including Robyn Pearson, Oliver Batchelour, Mark McKenzie, Steve Ford and

Kathryn Cassidy.

The Partnership would like to thank them for their expertise and assistance in the development of

these guidelines.

Jon Collinge Dave PalinChair, Waste Technical Working Group Deputy Chair, Waste Technical Working Group(2013 - current) (2013 - current)

Senior Sustainability Manager – Investment Management Sustainability Manager

Lend Lease Mirvac Asset Management

Prepared by:Waste Technical Working GroupBetter Buildings Partnership© Better Buildings Partnership 2015.

The material in this publication is made available by the Better Buildings Partnership as an information guide only and is not a substitute for legal advice.

The Better Buildings Partnership disclaims all liability (including, without limitation, liability in negligence) for any expenses, losses, damages or costs the reader or any relevant third party may incur as a result of reliance upon the information contained in this publication.

The Better Buildings Partnership makes no warranty or representation regarding the accuracy or suitability for any purpose, of the information contained in this publication. The reader should verify all relevant statements and information contained in this publication.

For more information visit: http://betterbuildingspartnership.com.au

acknowledgments


10 steps to good practice

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Specify your corporate outcomes.

Develop a Waste Management Plan (WMP) in collaboration with your contractors and stakeholders.

Allocate clear roles and responsibilities.

Agree the fees per waste stream and the nominated facilities.

Know your nominated facilities.

Use coloured translucent bags and onsite contamination checks to minimise load rejection.

Preference onsite weighing over lifts/volume.

Audit your current practice.

Rate your data quality.

Meet regularly to address challenges and make system improvements.

Clear outcomes enable everyone involved (building management, contractors, cleaners, tenants, etc) to understand how they can contribute to the waste management systems in place.

This is the core document that fosters a successful collaboration to ensure you reach your targets.

Include sub-contractors where joint waste/cleaning contracts are held.

Knowing your fees by stream will create shared incentives for resource recovery.

Document any materials excluded. Your compliance helps increase their recovery rate.

Using translucent bags enables better visibility for contamination when collecting on the floor or in the loading dock, decreasing rejection rates at the facility.

Where actual site weights or site-specific density conversions are not known, use the standard BBP Industry Density (ID) conversion figures.

Require periodic reporting on the building’s performance by floor/area on waste stream weights.Review recycling rates/diversion and contamination rates – both at loading dock and at facility.

Using the BBP Data Integrity Matrix (which favours one or more independent source).

Consider education, training and signage for contractors, cleaners and occupants.


Robust waste management programs require clear contracts and articulation of roles. Model contract clauses have been developed to assist with this process (Part A). A range of related tools that collectively form a waste management system are also described (Appendices B–E). The appendices are available in Excel format so they can be used as a set or as enhancements to supplement your current waste management systems.

These Guidelines do not assume that all buildings will operate the same waste streams, have the same level of reporting or target the same recovery rates. Instead, they are a framework. Each organisation will choose its priorities, level of service and reporting based on its market position, customer/ tenant requirements. The Guidelines simply seek to provide a common set of measures, a transparent method of comparing performance and a mechanism to iteratively improve performance over time.

The Better Building Partnership (BBP) is committed to continuous improvement in the management of waste generated by commercial buildings’ operations.

Drawing on its extensive expertise, it has developed these Guidelines to assist building owners and property managers to work more eff ectively and consistently with their waste and cleaning contractors. The Guidelines include a number of tools to create, procure and implement eff ective waste management programs. Using these tools will promote comparable data, clearly articulated accountabilities and transparent reporting processes.

The BBP hopes that by working together as an industry we can drive better standards, improve industry benchmarking and increase positive outcomes for waste reduction and resource recovery in the sector.

executive summary

This document contains 6 distinct parts:

Introduction and Overview

Part A Model contract

clauses

Part B Material streams and conversions

Part C Template waste

management plan

Part D Template roles, responsibilities,

KPIs

Part E Waste data

integrity rating protocol


how to use this guide

When beginning or reviewing a contract:

Trou

bles

hoot

ing

issu

esDocument requirements in waste management plan (C)

Conduct periodic review and refine processes

Include in tender brief for new

contract services

Review with existing contractor to agree services.

EITHER

Identify efficiencies that can enable new service requirements, eg. remove requirement to empty underdesk bins and replace with

increased reporting and tracking. Use reduced landfill costs to fun increased onsite contamination checking.

OR

If no match can be negotiated, vary service level at an agreed fee.

Decide on waste streams (Section B), recovery targets (D2) and service requirements (C) and choose clauses to support (A)

Identify areas for improvement

Inconsistent data and/or reporting

See Part B.2, C.4 and C.14 for standard

templates and reporting frequencies.

Data integrity questions

See Part E for a method of grading the

integrity of data collected.

Unclear roles and

responsibilities

See Part D.1 for a table outlining common roles/responsibilities

to use.

Contamination/facility rejection

See Parts C.2, C.3 and C.4 for planning and tracking, C.8,

C.11 and E.4 for auditing and

review and D.4 for managing

costs.

Unclear or inconsistent

charges

Perform compliance

reviews as per Part C.11, use Part D with

your contractor and use Part E to learn audit techniques.

Poor outcomes

Use Part E to understand the steps to

better quality outcomes and

Part C4 to track them in

operation.

Analyse Current/Previous Contract/ServiceWhat are the challenges? Where are the gaps? Where are expectations misaligned?

Trou

bles

hoot

ing

issu

es


E.1 RatingThe most accurate data is obtained where a site’s waste and recycling streams are weighed at the time of collection and where contamination in recycling streams is accounted for.

The summary rating table below outlines the ratings and the evidence required.

TABLE E.1 RATING

Rating Evidence requirements

Gold

Actual weights (AW)Two sources of dataIndependent auditSite contamination adjustment

Silver

Site densities (SD)Two sources of dataIndependent auditSite contamination adjustment

Bronze

Site density (SD)One source of dataMeasurement and verifi cationFacility contamination adjustment

NominalIndustry/national density (ID)Contractor unverifi ed dataFacility contamination adjustment

When reporting on waste outcomes and recovery, it is important to understand the quality of the data. This rating protocol has been developed to provide organisations with the ability to:

n enable transparency to provide credibility and confi dence in waste data

n improve the overall level of accuracy of waste data

n enable meaningful and accurate comparisons and benchmarking to be conducted within portfolios and across the property sector

n achieve greater resource recovery by more accurately measuring current performance.

Organisations should use this protocol in waste/cleaning contracts when specifying waste reporting requirements.

This protocol is designed for site-level reporting and is for use by Building Owners/Managers. If targeting a portfolio-level rating, a limited assurance approach to auditing is acceptable, with disclosure.

part e: waste data integrity rating protocol


E.2 Evidence criteriaAll streams reported on-site and representing more than 2 per cent of the total materials generated on-site from daily tenant activity must be included in the rating process, regardless of how the stream is managed. Grease trap waste is excluded, as this stream often comprises a limited amount of recoverable material.

For example, a confidential document streams managed by tenants, where this stream may equal or exceed 2 per cent of the total waste generated on-site, must be included.

To comply with a Gold or Silver rating, a minimum 95 % of the total waste generated by the site (e.g. waste and recycling streams including tenant managed waste streams such as secure paper) must be compliant with the criteria.

Please Note: Ratings of bronze and below should not be publicly reported.

TABLE E.2 EVIDENCE CRITERIA

Criteria Details

Actual weights (AW) May be gained from any of the following:

n the Contractor’s on-vehicle scales

n use of weighbridge – acceptable for compactors/skips only

n on-site scales used to weigh bins prior to collection.

All weighing devices used must be supported by evidence of calibration tests at least every six months. Some waste contractors with on-vehicle scales are calibrated daily. Evidence of this process is acceptable.

Sources of data Data sources must be independent of each other. Sources do not have to, but may include:

n Waste contractor invoice

n Cleaner bin tally

n Automated bin readers

n Weighbridge docket.

For example, a site may have bins weighed on-site by their waste contractor at time of collection. To support this, a cleaner tally of bin numbers would also be required.

Independent audit The audit must be conducted by someone independent of the “sources of data”. This will typically be parties independent of the waste and cleaning Contractor.

The audit must comply with the audit guidelines provided in Part E.5.

Measurement and verification Management and verification processes require collecting data and confirming the credibility of data by a competent person.

Contamination adjustment Refers to recycling streams only.

Site contamination is obtained following an independent compositional audit to determine non-acceptable items, as per the processing facility criteria.

E.3 Contamination auditTo determine the contamination rate, a site-specific audit of each recycling stream is required annually. This audit is conducted internally and must be overseen by an independent and competent person.

Where a site has undertaken a NABERS Waste Audit, the contamination results from this audit may be used. Otherwise the following methodology is followed:

For each recycling stream, regardless of management (eg. large tenant vs. building management):

n For two consecutive collections, the contents of the sample are to be audited to determine the level of “non-acceptable” items

n The sample will consist of all bins normally presented for collection

n Non-acceptable items must be as advised by the receiving facility.

The contamination rate is determined as follows:

n The total weight of “non-acceptable” items is expressed as a percentage of the total weight of all bins in the sample.

For example, if 24 kg of contamination is found, and the total weight of all mixed bins presented for the audit period (including the contaminated material) is 300 kg, then the contamination rate is 24/300, or 8 per cent.

Where a change in recycling facility is made (other than on an interim basis), and where the new facility’s acceptance criteria differs from the original facility, a new contamination audit must be completed within two months of the change of facilities.

Note: A contamination audit profiles contaminants only, as compared to a full waste audit which profiles the recycling.


times of each stream as it is collected. This data to be matched to tipping dockets from the processing facility. Where a significant time lag exists between collection and tipping, where the streams are not collected separately, or where the streams are not transported to the approved facility, a “non-compliance” rating is to be noted.

Where “non-compliance” ratings are noted, the Site has one month to address non-compliance. A follow-up audit is required using the process above. Failure to address non-compliance or undertake successful follow-up audits will result in a “nominal” rating.

E.4 Independent auditAn independent audit must be undertaken to verify the authenticity of the data sources. This audit may be conducted by building management/owners, providing a senior manager reviews and accepts the audit findings.

The audit must establish that the data presented reflects actual practice. In the absence of an approved alternative process, the following methodology is to be followed:

n An ad hoc date is to be selected for the audit. This date must coincide with normal collections for all streams. Where all streams are not collected on a common date, then more than one audit day will be required.

n Interested parties must not be advised of the audit date. This would include at a minimum cleaners and waste contractors.

n Audit verification processes should include:

1. Verification of bin weights: The Auditor is to observe the normal on-site weighing procedure. Using calibrated scales, the Auditor is to separately weigh a sample of bins and compare results with those obtained from the normal process. Where the bins are weighed by the waste vehicle as collected, bins will need to be weighed by the Auditor prior to collection. It is important that the bins are weighed as presented and collected. Where the audit bin weights on average vary by greater than 5 per cent, a “non-compliance” rating is to be noted.

2. Verification of total quantities: based on the previous six months average collections, the Auditor is to compare these averages to the audit day for each stream. Where the quantities presented on the audit day vary by greater than 15 per cent of the average, a “non-compliance” rating is to be noted.

3. Verification of contamination rate: a visual inspection of as a minimum, 20 per cent of bins from each recycling stream is to be undertaken and the visual contamination rate noted. The Auditor must be able to determine this rate based on weight. The Auditor must independently obtain from the processing facility their acceptance criteria. Where the contamination rate observed varies by more than 5 per cent, a “non-compliance” rating is to be noted.

4. Verification of processing facilities: for all streams representing greater than 5 per cent of the total waste and recycling stream, verification that the material is taken to the nominated facility is required. This evidence may include security footage showing registration and

BET

TER

BU

ILD

ING

S PA

RTN

ERSH

IP

OPE

RA

TIO

NA

L W

AST

E G

UID

ELIN

ES

4

0

E.6

Qui

ck re

fere

nce

- was

te d

ata

inte

grity

ratin

g

Rat

ing

Evid

ence

requ

irem

ents

Crite

riaCo

mm

ents

Gol

d

Act

ual w

eigh

ts (

AW

)95

% o

f all

was

te g

ener

ated

by

the

site

is w

eigh

ed o

n si

te b

y cl

eane

rs u

sing

ca

libra

ted

scal

es o

r was

te tr

ucks

with

wei

ghin

g ca

pabi

litie

s.

Two

sour

ces

of d

ata

Dat

a so

urce

s m

ust b

e in

depe

nden

t of e

ach

othe

r. So

urce

s m

ay in

clud

e: W

aste

C

ontr

acto

r Inv

oice

, Cle

aner

Bin

Tal

ly, A

utom

ated

bin

read

ers,

Wei

ghbr

idge

do

cket

s

Inde

pend

ent a

udit

The

audi

t mus

t com

ply

with

the

audi

t gui

delin

es p

rovi

ded

in P

art E

.5.

Site

con

tam

inat

ion

adju

stm

ent

Site

con

tam

inat

ion

is o

btai

ned

follo

win

g an

inde

pend

ent c

ompo

sitio

nal a

udit

to

dete

rmin

e no

n-ac

cept

able

item

s, a

s pe

r the

pro

cess

ing

faci

lity

crite

ria.

Silv

er

Site

den

sitie

s (S

D)

Was

te s

trea

ms

are

wei

ghed

onc

e a

quar

ter.

The

aver

age

wei

ght o

f eac

h st

ream

is

appl

ied

to th

e bi

n co

unt e

ach

nigh

t to

achi

eve

a w

eigh

t.

Two

sour

ces

of d

ata

Dat

a so

urce

s m

ust b

e in

depe

nden

t of e

ach

othe

r. So

urce

s m

ay in

clud

e: W

aste

C

ontr

acto

r Inv

oice

, Cle

aner

Bin

Tal

ly, A

utom

ated

bin

read

ers,

Wei

ghbr

idge

do

cket

s

Inde

pend

ent a

udit

The

audi

t mus

t com

ply

with

the

audi

t gui

delin

es p

rovi

ded

in P

art E

.5.

Site

con

tam

inat

ion

adju

stm

ent

Site

con

tam

inat

ion

is o

btai

ned

follo

win

g an

inde

pend

ent c

ompo

sitio

nal a

udit

to

dete

rmin

e no

n-ac

cept

able

item

s, a

s pe

r the

pro

cess

ing

faci

lity

crite

ria.

Bro

nze

Site

den

sity

(SD

)W

aste

str

eam

s ar

e w

eigh

ed tw

ice

a ye

ar. T

he a

vera

ge w

eigh

t of e

ach

stre

am is

ap

plie

d to

the

bin

coun

t eac

h ni

ght t

o ac

hiev

e a

wei

ght.

One

sou

rce

of d

ata

One

sou

rce

of d

ata

whi

ch m

ay in

clud

e: W

aste

Con

trac

tor I

nvoi

ce, C

lean

er B

in

Tally

, Aut

omat

ed b

in re

ader

s, W

eigh

brid

ge d

ocke

ts

Mea

sure

men

t and

ver

ifica

tion

Man

agem

ent a

nd v

erifi

catio

n pr

oces

ses

requ

ire c

olle

ctin

g da

ta a

nd c

onfir

min

g th

e cr

edib

ility

of d

ata

by a

com

pete

nt p

erso

n.

Faci

lity

cont

amin

atio

n ad

just

men

tTh

e pe

rcen

tage

out

put o

f the

recy

clin

g fa

cilit

y is

app

lied

to th

e ov

eral

l rec

yclin

g pe

rfor

man

ce.

Nom

inal

Indu

stry

/nat

iona

l den

sity

(ID

)A

vera

ge in

dust

ry w

eigh

ts a

re a

pplie

d to

a b

in c

ount

for w

eigh

t con

vers

ions

.

Cont

ract

or u

nver

ified

dat

aN

o ve

rifica

tion

proc

ess

to a

cces

s cr

edib

ility

of d

ata.

Faci

lity

cont

amin

atio

n ad

just

men

tTh

e pe

rcen

tage

out

put o

f the

recy

clin

g fa

cilit

y is

app

lied

to th

e ov

eral

l rec

yclin

g pe

rfor

man

ce.

A m

inim

um 9

5 pe

r cen

t of t

he to

tal w

aste

gen

erat

ed b

y th

e si

te (e

g. w

aste

and

recy

clin

g st

ream

s) m

ust b

e co

mpl

iant

with

the

crite

ria

betterbuildingspartnership.com.au

part e: waste data integrity rating...

Documents