Waste Diversion Calculator

Calculate your waste diversion rate by measuring how much waste is recycled, composted, or reused versus sent to landfill.

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Diversion Rate

56.0 %

Annual Waste Diverted1,456 lbs
Annual to Landfill1,144 lbs
CO2 Saved by Diversion0.33 metric tons

Diversion Rate vs Total Weekly Waste

View formula & how it works →

How to Calculate Waste Diversion Rate

The waste diversion rate measures what percentage of waste is kept out of landfills.

Formula

Diversion Rate = (Recycled + Composted + Reused) / Total Waste * 100

Benchmarks

  • Average US household: ~35% diversion
  • Leading cities (SF, Seattle): 60-80%
  • Zero-waste goal: 90%+
  • EU average: ~47%

    • Example Calculation

    A household producing 50 lbs/week total, recycling 15 lbs, composting 10 lbs, reusing 3 lbs.

    1. 01Diverted: 15 + 10 + 3 = 28 lbs
    2. 02Landfill: 50 - 28 = 22 lbs
    3. 03Diversion rate: 28 / 50 * 100 = 56%
    4. 04Annual diverted: 28 * 52 = 1,456 lbs

    Frequently Asked Questions

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