Municipal Waste Sorting Equipment worked example

Recovered Commodity Value at 98% recovery yield: a worked example

This scenario runs the recovered commodity value calculation on the strong side: 98% recovery yield, with every other input held at its documented default. Use it when modeling the commodity revenue from a new line, comparing PET, HDPE, OCC, or aluminum scenarios, or sizing the upside from a recovery improvement project.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Inbound tons of target stream: 120 tons (unchanged)
  • Commodity market price: 320 $ / ton (unchanged)
  • Recovery yield: 98 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 85)
  • Fixed broker rebate or premium: 0 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Variable recovered commodity value = inbound tons x commodity market price x recovery yield) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 37,632 $ for total recovered commodity value, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 314 $ / piece for recovered value per ton.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 37,632 $ for variable recovered commodity value.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0 $ for fixed broker rebate or premium.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where recovery yield sits at 85% and the headline result is 32,640 $, this scenario comes in 15.29% above the baseline at 37,632 $.
  • Use it when forecasting commodity revenue for a stream or building the business case for a yield-improving upgrade. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Total recovered commodity value: 37,632 $ (headline result)
  • Recovered value per ton: 314 $ / piece
  • Variable recovered commodity value: 37,632 $
  • Fixed broker rebate or premium: 0 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Recovered Commodity Value calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.