Smart Waste Diversion & The Recycling Efficiency Revolution
Every product we use has an environmental footprint, from production to disposal. For example, it takes about 2,700 liters of water to make a single cotton shirt, yet most of these shirts end up in landfills after just a few years of use. According to the EPA’s definitive 2018 study, the U.S. alone generates approximately 292.4 million tons of trash annually, yet only about 32.5% is recycled or composted. Even more concerning, according to The Recycling Partnership, about 20% of what is placed in recycling bins doesn’t actually get recycled. With waste generation increasing year by year, the need for better waste management strategies has never been greater.
Waste Diversion
Waste diversion is the process of redirecting waste away from landfills through methods such as recycling, composting, and reusing. EPA points out that the goal of waste diversion is to extend the lifespan of materials, minimize environmental impact, and reduce the burden on landfill systems.
According to the EPA, waste diversion involves:
"The prevention and reduction of generated waste through source reduction, recycling, reuse, and composting. Waste diversion generates a host of environmental, financial, and social benefits, including conserving energy, reducing disposal costs, and reducing the burden on landfills and other waste disposal methods."
Waste Diversion vs. Zero Waste
Waste diversion and zero waste both seek to reduce the environmental impact of waste, but they differ in scope and approach. Waste diversion primarily aims to keep material out of landfills by recycling more effectively, through recycling, composting, and reuse, focusing on managing waste more efficiently within existing systems. It acknowledges that some waste is inevitable but strives to minimize its impact. Zero waste, on the other hand, is a more ambitious and holistic framework that seeks to eliminate waste at its source. The Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA)has defined Zero Waste as “The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health”. ZWIA guidelines stipulate that conservation activities must result in 90% waste diversion. Zero waste in the USA differs in that it strives to reduce landfill use according to percentages set by municipalities. While waste diversion is a crucial step toward sustainability, zero waste represents the ultimate goal which requires systemic changes in disposal practices, as well as production and consumption. and disposal practices.
Why Is Waste Diversion Important?
- Reduces Landfill Waste: Landfills contribute to pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and habitat destruction. Diverting waste helps mitigate these issues.
- Conserves Resources: Recycling and reusing materials decrease the demand for virgin resources, reducing environmental and economic costs.
- Supports Sustainability Goals: Businesses and municipalities benefit from waste diversion strategies that align with corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability initiatives.
Measuring Waste Diversion Rate
To implement a successful waste diversion strategy, organizations must first measure their waste diversion rate. Here’s how:Once the current waste diversion rate is determined, organizations can set realistic improvement targets. Engaging employees, custodial teams, and stakeholders is crucial to implementing and maintaining effective waste management programs.
Waste diversion measurement includes:
Step 1: Conduct a Waste Audit
A waste audit helps organizations analyze their waste streams and identify opportunities for improvement. Traditionally, audits involve:
- Internal evaluations conducted by facility teams
- Waste hauler reports
- Third-party audit services
- Smart waste technology, such as MyMatR, to track and categorize waste in real time
Step 2: Calculate the Waste Diversion Rate
Using the data from a waste audit, organizations can determine their waste diversion rate with the following formula:
Waste Diversion Rate = (Weight of Recycling) / (Weight of Recycling + Weight of Garbage) × 100
Step 3: Set Diversion Rate Targets
Manually conducting waste audits and tracking waste diversion rates can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. That’s where MyMatR comes in.
MyMatR is an AI-powered waste-sorting machine designed to streamline waste diversion efforts. It:
- Automatically sorts waste in real time, reducing contamination and improving recycling efficiency.
- Tracks and analyzes diversion rates, providing actionable insights via an analytics dashboard.
- Engages users by displaying waste diversion results, promoting better disposal habits.
- Helps organizations meet sustainability goals by offering precise data on waste streams.
By integrating MyMatR into waste management systems, businesses, universities, and municipalities can significantly improve their waste diversion rates while reducing costs and environmental impact.
Conclusion
Waste diversion is a crucial step toward a more sustainable future. Measuring and improving waste diversion rates helps reduce landfill waste, conserve resources, and support sustainability initiatives. By leveraging technology with MyMatR, organizations can turn analytics into action, making waste diversion smarter, more efficient, and more impactful.
Are you ready to optimize your waste diversion strategy? Explore how MyMatR can help your organization meet its sustainability goals today.
