Recycling Savings Calculator Formula

Understand the math behind the recycling savings calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.

Use the Recycling Savings Calculator

Formulas Used

Annual Energy Saved

total_kwh = al_energy + paper_energy + glass_energy + plastic_energy

Annual CO2 Saved

co2_saved = (al_energy + paper_energy + glass_energy + plastic_energy) * 0.92 / 2204.6

Aluminum Energy Saved

al_savings = al_energy

Annual Material Recycled

total_recycled = (aluminum_lbs + paper_lbs + glass_lbs + plastic_lbs) * 52

Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
aluminum_lbsWeekly Aluminum(lbs)1
paper_lbsWeekly Paper/Cardboard(lbs)5
glass_lbsWeekly Glass(lbs)3
plastic_lbsWeekly Plastic(lbs)2
al_energyDerived value= aluminum_lbs * 52 * 7calculated
paper_energyDerived value= paper_lbs * 52 * 2.5calculated
glass_energyDerived value= glass_lbs * 52 * 0.5calculated
plastic_energyDerived value= plastic_lbs * 52 * 3calculated

How It Works

How to Calculate Recycling Savings

Recycling saves energy compared to manufacturing from raw materials.

Energy Savings (kWh per lb recycled)

  • Aluminum: 7.0 kWh/lb (95% energy savings vs virgin)
  • Paper: 2.5 kWh/lb (60% savings)
  • Glass: 0.5 kWh/lb (30% savings)
  • Plastic: 3.0 kWh/lb (70% savings)

    • Formula

    Energy Saved = Weight * kWh per lb * 52 weeks

    Worked Example

    A household recycling 1 lb aluminum, 5 lbs paper, 3 lbs glass, 2 lbs plastic per week.

    aluminum_lbs = 1paper_lbs = 5glass_lbs = 3plastic_lbs = 2
    1. 01Aluminum: 1 * 52 * 7.0 = 364 kWh
    2. 02Paper: 5 * 52 * 2.5 = 650 kWh
    3. 03Glass: 3 * 52 * 0.5 = 78 kWh
    4. 04Plastic: 2 * 52 * 3.0 = 312 kWh
    5. 05Total: 364 + 650 + 78 + 312 = 1,404 kWh saved

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which material saves the most energy when recycled?

    Aluminum saves the most energy per pound (95% vs virgin production). Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours.

    What percentage of waste is recyclable?

    About 75% of municipal waste is recyclable, but the US only recycles about 32%. Paper, metals, glass, and plastics 1-2 are widely accepted in curbside programs.

    Does recycling really make a difference?

    Yes. Recycling all recyclable waste in the US would save 250 million metric tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to removing 50 million cars from the road.

    Ready to run the numbers?

    Open Recycling Savings Calculator