Efficient Waste Management: How to Track and Improve Your Waste Diversion
Waste diversion is becoming increasingly important in India due to the high volume of waste generated in the country. Tracking waste diversion data is crucial for businesses and organizations to monitor their progress towards achieving zero waste. Here are some ways to track waste diversion data.
- Keep track of waste generation: Start by tracking the amount of waste generated in your building or facility. This can be done by weighing the waste or estimating the volume using standardized volume-to-weight conversion factors.
- Categorize waste: Categorize the waste into different streams such as paper, plastic, metal, and organic waste. This will help in identifying the types of waste that can be reduced, reused, or recycled.
- Set diversion goals: Set goals for waste diversion and create a plan to achieve those goals. This will help in measuring progress and identifying areas for improvement.
- Implement waste reduction and recycling programs: Implement programs such as composting, recycling, and reuse of materials to reduce waste generation and divert waste from landfills.
- Keep track of costs and savings: Document the cost savings, avoided cost of disposal, waste cost, recycle cost, and labor cost associated with waste diversion. This will help in assessing the financial impact of waste diversion programs.
Here is a sample waste diversion sheet that can be used to track waste diversion data:
| Waste Stream | Quantity (kg) | Diverted (kg) | Diversion Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | 200 | 180 | 90 |
| Plastic | 100 | 80 | 80 |
| Metal | 50 | 35 | 70 |
| Organic | 300 | 270 | 90 |
| Total | 650 | 565 | 87 |
By tracking waste diversion data, businesses and organizations can identify opportunities for waste reduction and implement effective waste diversion strategies. This not only helps in reducing the environmental impact of waste but also provides financial benefits through cost savings and increased efficiency.
Wet waste diversion table
| Waste Category | Base Case (kg) | Project Case (kg) | Difference (kg) | Compost Cost per ton (Rs.) | Compost Savings (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Waste | 1200 | 800 | 400 | 5000 | 2000 |
| Garden Waste | 600 | 400 | 200 | 5000 | 1000 |
| Total | 1800 | 1200 | 600 | – | 3000 |
Note: Assumptions made for compost cost per ton is Rs. 5000 and the difference in landfill cost per ton and compost cost per ton is Rs. 2000 for food waste and Rs. 1000 for garden waste. The compost savings are calculated by multiplying the difference in waste amount by compost cost per ton.