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.