New Construction / International / V6 /
07 - Waste
Information correct as of 21stDecember 2024. Please see kb.breeam.com for the latest compliance information.
Communal waste storage – Requirement for this to be external in Criterion 1 - KBCN1513
Communal waste storage areas can be located within the building. However, where such waste is stored internally, it must be in a location that demonstrably provides suitable environmental conditions, meets relevant fire, health and safety requirements for waste storage and has appropriate external access for waste collection.
Compactor/baler/organic waste storage requirements – Speculative/Shell only/Shell and core - KBCN1662
For Shell only/Shell and core assessments and speculative developments, where the scope of works does not include the installation of such facilities but the building function suggests that they will be required, appropriately sized space, services and infrastructure for the relevant facilities must be provided.
The facilities themselves do not necessarily need to be provided or installed to demonstrate compliance.
01 Oct 2024 - Title and wording updated to clarify that this approach can be applied for shell only and shell and core, as well as speculative projects. Applied to International NC.
Designed-out or integrated finishes - KBCN1066
The requirements for this credit are met when either:
- No finishes within the scope of the issue have been specified, or
- Finishes are integrated into the asset and designed in a way that the finish cannot be removed.
For instance, a self-finished timber floor or exposed soffit which cannot be removed and does not require additional finishes when installed.
This issue recognises avoiding unnecessary waste of materials.
16-May-2023 - Merged with KBCN0046. Scheme applicability updated. Name updated for clarity.
Exemplary credit – Ene 01 credits required - KBCN1556
For the exemplary credit, the requirement for 'Ene 01 Reduction of energy use and carbon emissions' is to achieve four credits, (rather than the eight stated in the manual). This is due to the altered credit scale in NC V6 Ene 01.
This will be updated in the next reissue of the technical manual
Operational waste – Additional requirements for multi-residential buildings with individual bedrooms and communal facilities only - KBCN1519
These criteria are intended for situations where occupants of individual rooms have access to shared kitchens, which can be used to prepare food, regardless of whether central catering is also available.
In developments where all catering is managed centrally and no communal/shared kitchens are provided, these requirements do not apply.
If, for example, catering is managed centrally, but there are small satellite kitchens for staff to sort/reheat food for residents, the assessor must justify whether and to what extent recyclable waste will be generated in these kitchens and demonstrate that adequate recyclable waste storage provided as appropriate.
Recyclable, general and organic waste storage – space, labelling and segregation - KBCN1577
Strategies may vary according to the specifics of each project, their waste streams and collection arrangements.
- Any reference to ‘labelling’ refers to permanent markings or fixed, robust and weatherproof signage.
- Colour coding of bins to identify waste streams is not in itself compliant labelling.
The aim of these requirements is to encourage recycling, ensuring that it is correctly sorted and to prevent cross-contamination of waste streams.
Label the recycling area
This is required to alert building users and collection agencies to the location of the recycling facility.
Label each recyclable waste stream
This can be done by labelling the bins or their dedicated space within the recycling facility, or both. Mixed recycling bins and / or spaces are clearly labelled with their constituent waste streams.
General or organic waste have their own dedicated spaces
Sufficient space for general and, where relevant, organic waste is required in addition to meeting the requirements for recyclable waste. This does not have to be within a separate facility, but if combined with recyclable waste storage, there is greater risk of cross-contamination. The following requirements apply in this situation:
- For organic waste, see also additional hygiene-related requirements within the technical manual.
- In line with the requirement for the recycling area to be clearly labelled, general or organic waste must be stored in labelled bins and in a labelled, dedicated space within the combined waste facility.
If provision of waste bins is out of scope
Where the provision of waste bins is outside the scope of the developer, it is clearly not possible to label the bins. In this situation, the following compliance options are available:
- Provide compliant signage to the storage area and label bin spaces within the storage area according to the relevant waste streams.
- Where future waste streams are unknown, provide compliant signage to the storage area and a written commitment from the developer to ensure that the bins and/or bin spaces are labelled.
21-May-2024 - Link to KBCN0696 removed. Merged with KBCN1380. Minor clarification added on mixed recycling.
Residential institutions – short term stay - KBCN0811
The additional criteria for residential institutions
do not apply to residential institutions - short term stay.
26-Mar-2024 - Scheme applicability corrected.
Self-contained dwellings / bedrooms with shared facilities – mixed recycling - KBCN1664
Where there is mixed recycling, the number of recyclables containers can be reduced to match the final waste streams being collected.
For example, the standard BREEAM requirement is
three recyclables containers per dwelling / communal facility.
- Where there are two waste streams (for example mixed paper, plastics and metals with a separate glass collection) then only two containers are required.
- Where there is only one waste stream, only one container is required.
The total combined storage volume requirements are the same as stated in the manuals.
To apply this KBCN, the project team must provide evidence to QA of the waste collection policies that apply to the asset.
Speculative floor finishes – Take-back and re-use policy - KBCN1702
Where a developer has an established written policy whereby unwanted floor finishes will be removed for re-use elsewhere prior to the tenant taking possession, this can be considered as meeting the aim of this issue.
This is only applicable to types of flooring which are suitable for re-use, can be easily removed and do not require the use of adhesives or other permanent means of fixing.
Additionally, the tenancy agreement must otherwise prohibit the removal of the flooring by the tenant
Evidence to support this approach would include:
• A copy of the take-back policy
• Details of the flooring type and material
• A copy of the tenancy agreement
Information correct as of 21stDecember 2024. Please see kb.breeam.com for the latest compliance information.