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Waste Diversion Rate

Free Waste Diversion Rate calculator with clear step-by-step results.

About Waste Diversion Rate

Diversion rate is the share of waste kept out of landfill, but whether energy recovery counts as diversion is a genuine definitional dispute - some standards include it and others treat incineration as disposal. The toggle lets you report both, and the separate recycling rate is the figure that is comparable across definitions.

Formulas

Diversion rate

Rate % = (recycled + composted + reused + optionally energy recovery) / total waste x 100

Recycling rate

Rate % = (recycled + composted) / total waste x 100

Worked example

With the default values below, Waste Diversion Rate returns Diversion rate of 62.86%. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Recycledminimum 0 t
42 t
Composted or anaerobically digestedminimum 0 t
18 t
Reused or remanufacturedminimum 0 t
6 t
Sent to energy recoveryminimum 0 t
15 t
Sent to landfillminimum 0 t
24 t
Count energy recovery as diverted
No

Results

Diversion rate
62.86% %
Recycling and composting rate
57.14% %
Landfill rate
22.86% %
Total waste arising
105.00 t

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Diversion rate
  3. 3Recycling rate
  4. 4Diversion rate= 62.86 %
  5. 5Recycling and composting rate= 57.14 %
  6. 6Landfill rate= 22.86 %
  7. 7Total waste arising= 105.00 t

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 6 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
  • In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
  • Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should energy recovery count as diversion?

It depends on the standard. Zero-waste certifications generally exclude it; many municipal reporting frameworks include it. Always state which definition you used.

Why report the recycling rate separately?

Because it is unambiguous. A high diversion rate driven entirely by incineration tells a very different story from one driven by material recovery.

Related Calculators

Waste Diversion Rate – Calculate Diversion rate | Calcrivo