Mastering the Calculation of Zero Waste Diversion: A Guide to Accurately Measuring Your Environmental Impact
To measure the success of a zero waste program, it’s important to calculate the diversion rate. Diversion rate is the percentage of waste that is diverted from the landfill through reduction, reuse, and recycling. To calculate the diversion rate for all baseline materials, including reduction, follow these steps:
Step 1: Determine the amount of waste generated
The first step is to determine the total amount of waste generated, including all baseline materials.
| Waste Stream | Amount (tons) |
|---|---|
| Trash/Landfill/WTE | 21.2 |
| Reuse | 12 |
| Recycle | 96.1 |
| Reduction | 15 |
| Total | 144.3 |
Step 2: Calculate the diversion rate
Next, calculate the diversion rate using the formula:
(Diverted Materials / Total Materials) x 100
Diverted materials include reuse, recycling, and reduction.
| Diverted Materials | Amount (tons) |
|---|---|
| Reuse | 12 |
| Recycle | 96.1 |
| Reduction | 15 |
| Total Diverted | 123.1 |
| Calculation | Result |
|---|---|
| Total Diverted Materials | 123.1 |
| Total Materials | 144.3 |
| Diversion Rate | 85.3% |
Therefore, the diversion rate for all baseline materials, including reduction, is 85.3%.
In conclusion, calculating the diversion rate is a crucial step in measuring the success of a zero waste program. By including all baseline materials, including reduction, you can get a more accurate representation of how much waste is being diverted from the landfill.