Municipal Waste Sorting Equipment worked example

Re-sort and Rework Cost at 72% share of rejected load in scope: a worked example

This worked example runs the re-sort and rework cost numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: 72% share of rejected load in scope instead of the typical 100%. Estimate the cost of re-sorting bales or running material back through the line when contamination or moisture rejects a load.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Bales requiring re-sort and rebaling: 40 bales (held at the documented default)
  • Cost per rebaled unit: 120 $ / bale (held at the documented default)
  • Share of rejected load in scope: 72 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 100)
  • Fixed handling and freight cost: 750 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Variable re-sort and rework cost = bales requiring rework x cost per rebaled unit x share in scope.
  • Total re-sort and rework cost works out to 4,206 $ at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Rework cost per bale works out to 105 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Variable re-sort and rework cost works out to 3,456 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed handling and freight cost works out to 750 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where share of rejected load in scope sits at 100% and the headline result is 5,550 $, this scenario comes in 24.22% below the baseline at 4,206 $.
  • Use it after a load rejection to cost the event, and when justifying investment in upstream quality controls. 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 re-sort and rework cost: 4,206 $ (headline result)
  • Rework cost per bale: 105 $ / piece
  • Variable re-sort and rework cost: 3,456 $
  • Fixed handling and freight cost: 750 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Re-sort and Rework Cost calculator, set share of rejected load in scope to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.