Wood & Paper Manufacturing worked example

Paper Trim Waste at 8.05% edge-trim waste rate: a worked example

Push edge-trim waste rate up to 8.05% and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use it to value edge-trim and converting waste on a paper run and justify width or slitting optimization.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Paper consumed per run: 15,000 lbs (unchanged)
  • Paper cost per pound: 0.62 $/lb (unchanged)
  • Edge-trim waste rate: 8.05 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 7)
  • Baling and haul-off cost: 140 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Trim waste cost = paper weight x cost per pound x trim waste rate + haul-off cost) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 889 $ for total paper trim waste cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.06 $ / piece for paper trim waste cost per unit.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 749 $ for variable paper trim waste cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 140 $ for fixed paper trim waste adder.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where edge-trim waste rate sits at 7% and the headline result is 791 $, this scenario comes in 12.35% above the baseline at 889 $.
  • It calculates the dollar cost of edge-trim waste for a run by valuing the trimmed fiber and adding the baling and haul-off charge. 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

  • Total paper trim waste cost: 889 $ (headline result)
  • Paper trim waste cost per unit: 0.06 $ / piece
  • Variable paper trim waste cost: 749 $
  • Fixed paper trim waste adder: 140 $

Run it with your numbers

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

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.