Why is diversion percent separate from pounds?

Not every pound placed in a recycling bin is accepted or processed. The percent lets you model that gap.

Can I leave a material at zero?

Yes. Unused streams stay at 0 without affecting other totals.

Is recycling-impact-calc a different tool?

No. That alias resolves to this calculator.

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Recycling Impact Calculator

Add material streams, then apply a diversion percent you believe matches real acceptance—not wishful sorting.

Material totals

Diversion percent

Diverted pounds

Sums user-entered recycled pounds by material stream and multiplies by a diversion percent to estimate pounds diverted from disposal. Not an emissions or commodity-value model.

Limitation: Educational mass worksheet only.

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Free Calculators HubRecycling Impact Calculator

Paper (lb)Paper you count as recycled in this period.Cardboard (lb)Plastic (lb)Metal (lb)Glass (lb)Other recyclables (lb)Diversion percentShare of entered recycled pounds you treat as diverted from disposal (0–100).

How to Estimate Recycling Diversion

Use weighed or estimated pounds for one consistent period.

Enter pounds for each material stream you recycled.

Diversion is not 100% by default

If your program rejects contaminated loads, lower the diversion percent instead of inflating material pounds.

What Diverted Pounds Means

Diverted pounds is total recycled mass scaled by your diversion percent. It is not CO₂e or landfill volume.

Recycling Worksheet Examples

90% diversion scenario

Entered recycling scenario

paperPounds:20

cardboardPounds:10

plasticPounds:5

metalPounds:3

glassPounds:2

otherPounds:0

diversionPercent:90

Diverted from disposal (lb)

36 diverted from disposal (lb)

Total recycled 40 lb × 90% = 36 lb diverted in this worksheet.

Full diversion of a small load

Entered recycling scenario

paperPounds:5

cardboardPounds:0

plasticPounds:0

metalPounds:0

glassPounds:0

otherPounds:0

diversionPercent:100

Diverted from disposal (lb)

5 diverted from disposal (lb)

With 100% diversion, diverted equals total recycled.

Weigh mixed bins when possible

A kitchen scale on a sample week beats guessing stream splits from memory.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Greenhouse-gas factors are material- and process-specific and are not included.

Still have questions about this calculation?

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Recycling Impact Formulas

No emission factors or market prices are embedded.

Formula

paper + cardboard + plastic + metal + glass + other

Total recycled pounds

paper + cardboard + plastic + metal + glass + other

Diverted from disposal

total recycled × diversion percent / 100

Scientific Background

Assumptions: user-entered masses and a single diversion percent across streams. Limitations: contamination, residue, and remanufacturing yields differ by material and facility. Official program guidance remains with local authorities and EPA recycling education pages.

Sources & review

Recycling Impact Calculator documents the references behind its formulas and assumptions. Always treat results as educational estimates, not personalized professional advice.

Last reviewed

July 22, 2026

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