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Waste Recycling Rate Calculator

Work out waste recycling rate instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Waste Recycling Rate Calculator

Recycling rate counts only recycled material against the total, while diversion rate adds composting. With 420 kg recycled, 180 kg composted and 500 kg landfilled, the recycling rate is 38.2% but diversion reaches 54.5%. The distinction matters because targets are set against one or the other and the difference can exceed fifteen points.

Formulas

Recycling rate

rate = recycled / total waste x 100

Diversion rate

rate = (recycled + composted) / total x 100

Worked example

With the default values below, Waste Recycling Rate Calculator returns Diversion From Landfill of 54.55%. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Material recycledminimum 0 kg
420 kg
Material compostedminimum 0 kg
180 kg
Material sent to landfill or incinerationminimum 0 kg
500 kg

Results

Diversion From Landfill
54.55%
Recycling Rate
38.18%
Total Waste Handled
1,100.0 kg
Share Sent To Landfill
45.45%

Step by step

  1. 1Values used
  2. 2Recycling rate
  3. 3Diversion rate
  4. 4Diversion From Landfill= 54.55
  5. 5Recycling Rate= 38.18
  6. 6Total Waste Handled= 1,100.0 kg
  7. 7Share Sent To Landfill= 45.45

Assumptions and limits

  • The result is derived only from the 3 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

Why do reported rates differ so much between places?

Because definitions differ - some count incineration with energy recovery as diversion, others exclude construction waste, and some measure at the kerb rather than after sorting.

Does contamination affect the real rate?

Yes. Material rejected at the sorting facility should be counted as residual, and contamination rates of 15-25% are common in kerbside collections.

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