Energy & Sustainability worked example

Waste Reduction Savings at 99% realized capture rate: a worked example

Push realized capture rate up to 99% and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. an operations or sustainability manager needs to quantify avoided waste disposal and handling cost

The inputs for this scenario

  • Landfill tonnage diverted: 140 tons (unchanged)
  • Disposal and handling cost avoided: 185 $ / ton (unchanged)
  • Realized capture rate: 99 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 90)
  • Program setup and sorting cost: 3,500 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Avoided waste cost = waste volume avoided × avoided waste cost rate × savings capture rate) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 29,141 $ for net waste reduction savings, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 208 $ / ton for savings per avoided ton.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 25,641 $ for avoided waste disposal and handling cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 3,500 $ for implementation or sorting cost.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where realized capture rate sits at 90% and the headline result is 26,810 $, this scenario comes in 8.69% above the baseline at 29,141 $.
  • It multiplies tons diverted by the per-ton disposal cost avoided and a realized capture rate, then adds the program's sorting or setup cost to report net savings. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.

Results at a glance

  • Net waste reduction savings: 29,141 $ (headline result)
  • Savings per avoided ton: 208 $ / ton
  • Avoided waste disposal and handling cost: 25,641 $
  • Implementation or sorting cost: 3,500 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Waste Reduction Savings calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.