WGP Credit 6: Sustainable Capital and Utility Procurement (1-2 points)
Non-Reciprocal
Intent:
To establish energy efficiency and sustainability requirements for new purchases of capital equipment, construction, infrastructure, and utilities pertaining to waste management administration.
Local Government Requirements
● Maintain a sustainable purchasing program covering capital equipment associated with administration of the Local Government’s solid waste program with a high cost per unit that are not regularly replaced through the course of operations. This equipment includes, but is not limited to:
○ Vehicles
○ Office equipment and appliances
● Maintain a sustainable purchasing program covering the waste management program’s administration facilities total energy consumption through the course of operations.
Tier 1: (1 point)
Offset 100 percent of the Scope 1 & Scope 2 carbon emissions through Carbon Offsets and/or Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) or equivalent.[1]
● RECs purchased from the grid must be Green-e-Energy certified or equivalent from sources that have come online in the last 10 years
● For remaining Scope 1 emissions or for all Scope 1 & Scope 2 carbon emissions, purchase carbon offsets that are Green-e-Climate certified or equivalent
Or
Supply 10 percent of total energy of vehicles and facilities from on-site renewables (wind, hydro, solar, biomass etc.) and/or renewable fuels as defined in credits SWC Credit 3, PCR Credit 7 or PCD Credit 1. Low-carbon or alternative fuels as defined in these credits e.g. natural gas recovered from the local waste stream, may count toward this requirement, but are discounted by 50%.
● Credit assignment options: Electricity generation, cogeneration, heat generation, or cleaned and compressed for mobile equipment or collection equipment
Tier 2: (1 point)
Certify all construction or renovation projects of waste processing facilities in excess of 5,000 square feet to LEED certification version 3 and above, or LEED Silver for version 2 or equivalent. SWEEP will review all equivalent certification and renovation projects.
Industry Requirements
● Maintain a sustainable purchasing program covering capital equipment associated with administration of the Company’s solid waste program with a high cost per unit that are not regularly replaced through the course of operations. This equipment includes, but is not limited to:
○ Vehicles
○ Office equipment and appliances
● Maintain a sustainable purchasing program covering the waste management program’s administration facilities total energy consumption through the course of operations.
Tier 1: (1 point):
Offset 100 percent of the Scope 1 & Scope 2 carbon emissions through Carbon Offsets and/or Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) equivalent.[2]
● RECs purchased from the grid must be Green-e-Energy certified or equivalent from sources that have come online in the past 10 years.
● For remaining Scope 1 emissions or for all Scope 1 & Scope 2 carbon emissions, purchase carbon offsets that are Green-e-Climate certified or equivalent.
Or
● 10 percent of the facility’s total energy consumption (vehicles + facility) must come from on-site renewables. These include: wind, hydro, and solar energy sources.
○ Credit assignment options: Electricity generation, co-generation, heat generation, or cleaned and compressed gas for mobile equipment or collection equipment.
Tier 2: (1 point)
Certify all construction or renovation projects of waste processing facilities in excess of 5,000 square feet to LEED certification for version 3 and above or LEED Silver for version 2, or equivalent.
Potential Strategies
● Quantify Scope 1 & Scope 2 carbon emissions.
● Purchase qualifying offsets for renewable energy and/or carbon
● Evaluate sites in the local jurisdiction for renewable energy potential
● Design and certify waste management and support facilities to green building standards, such as LEED. “Designed to” LEED or other certification programs does not count toward this credit.
● Certifying entity must demonstrate equivalence to the referenced standards.
[1] There are many equivalent and acceptable carbon offset programs that achieve the same outcome as Green-e-Energy certified and Green-e-Climate certified programs. Other programs used for carbon offsets or RECs will be reviewed and approved by the SWEEP certification team.
[2] There are many equivalent and acceptable carbon offset programs that achieve the same outcome as Green-e-Energy certified and Green-e-Climate certified programs. Other programs used for carbon offsets or RECs will be reviewed and approved by the SWEEP certification team.
