Environmental Compliance, Waste & Water Management worked example

Solvent Loss Cost at 61% unrecovered loss share: a worked example

This worked example runs the solvent loss cost numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 61% unrecovered loss share instead of the typical 85%. Estimate solvent loss cost from solvent lost, solvent replacement cost, applicable share, and fixed environmental fees.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Solvent lost to evaporation and drag-out: 420 gal (held at the documented default)
  • Virgin solvent replacement cost: 18.5 $ / gal (held at the documented default)
  • Unrecovered loss share: 61 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 85)
  • Cleanup, disposal, or handling fees: 950 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Variable cost = solvent lost × solvent replacement cost × unrecovered loss share.
  • Total solvent loss cost works out to 5,690 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Solvent loss cost per gallon works out to 13.55 $ / gal at these inputs.
  • Variable solvent loss cost works out to 4,740 $ at these inputs.
  • Cleanup, disposal, or handling fees works out to 950 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where unrecovered loss share sits at 85% and the headline result is 7,555 $, this scenario comes in 24.68% below the baseline at 5,690 $.
  • Use it to quantify the payback on vapor-recovery, distillation, or improved drag-out controls, and to benchmark solvent cost per gallon across lines. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Total solvent loss cost: 5,690 $ (headline result)
  • Solvent loss cost per gallon: 13.55 $ / gal
  • Variable solvent loss cost: 4,740 $
  • Cleanup, disposal, or handling fees: 950 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Solvent Loss Cost calculator, set unrecovered loss share to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.