Dumpster Signage on LEED Construction Sites

A simple way to help manage construction waste on-site is to have clear dumpster signage that labels the recycling dumpsters with what material goes where.

by Tommy Linstroth, LEED Fellow

“I Saw the Signage.” – Ace of Base

With all due respect to Ace of Base and their chart-topper I Saw the Sign, I don’t think they were picturing a LEED construction project when they wrote it. But, when you walk onto your project site, do you see the sign? Or more appropriately, the signage?

Managing construction waste to earn LEED credits can range for really simple to extremely hard. It’s easy when you demo a huge concrete structure and replace it with another one and can achieve all your thresholds by just tracking concrete and literally throwing everything else away.

It is much more difficult when there is no demo, it is a steel or wood structure, and the project has a variety of uses (retail, mixed use, hospitality, I’m looking at you!).

One simple, often overlooked way to help manage the waste process (since I know you’re already informing all the subs in your weekly meetings about how important it is to recycle – right?) is to have clear, easy to read signage labeling the recycling dumpsters with what material goes where.

These signs should be in English and Spanish. Pretty basic, right? But take a look next time you’re walking a job site and see how easy it is to find the recycling bins, or to sort out what goes where – especially if English isn’t your first language.

Looking for more information on Construction Waste Management Planning?

Download the MRc5 Ebook to get all the LEED requirements, strategies, and best practices to achieve Construction Waste Management for v4 and v4.1. Construction waste management is pursued on nearly every LEED project, and for good reason. With proper planning, two points are achievable. But can project teams really hit the waste reduction goals? If your project has a ton of demolition it will make earning more than 1 point a challenge. For this reason, we’re providing you guidance for both LEED v4 and v4.1 because if your project hasn’t registered specifically under v4.1 then you have the option to choose.