1. Tracking, Measurement and Analysis

2. In This Lesson By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:
(Knowledge Level) identify some of the key factors to measure when tracking and recording the cost of disposal and recycling practices
(Knowledge Level) describe the primary steps to perform a waste /recycling “right-sizing”
(Comprehension Level) explain what is meant by baseline data
(Comprehension Level) summarize how the results of the audit can be used to design program "next steps" and help eliminate wasting
(Application Level) Calculate diversion rates for various business models
(Analysis Level) examine the data from a waste audit and create a strategy for home/school/businesses to reduce or eliminate wasteful practices

3. Tracking and Measurement
Tracking and measurement is one of the most challenging aspects of showing the Zero Waste Picture
How well can you track and measure your program?
Do you have metrics in place to measure every aspect of your program?
What do you do with the information?

4. Baseline Baseline = a minimum or starting point used for comparisons
Tons generated, disposed & recycled
Disposal costs, commodity sales revenue generated
Purchasing records (Qty & $)

5. Rebate for sale of commodities
Look at Whole Picture
Starting Point
Total cost
Total tons
Labor Costs
Staff time to collect, transport and bale
Hourly staff loaded rate
Equipment and Hauling Costs
Cost for equipment
Cost for hauling, disposal
Material Values
Rebate for sale of commodities
Janitorial staff is often the least expensive
Courtesy SBM

6. Calculate Diversion Regular Diversion (Recycling) Zero Waste Diversion
Uses total generation
Provides a limited view of Zero Waste initiatives
Incentivizes downstream recycling and reuse
Uses total generation + estimated waste reduction
How do you measure something that wasn’t generated
Incentivizes upstream redesign and waste reduction
Provides full picture of Zero Waste initiatives

7. Example: How to Calculate Diversion of Generated Materials
Trash/Landfill/WTE amount (all tons)
21.2
Recycle
96.1
Reuse 12
Total Generation
= 129.3
Diversion Rate
(Recycle + Reuse) / (Total Generation)
/ 129.3
= 83.6%

8. Example: How to Calculate ZW Diversion of all Baseline Materials
Trash/Landfill/WTE amount (all tons)
21.2
Reuse 12
Recycle
96.1
Reduction 15
Total Generation
= 144.3
ZW Diversion Rate
(Reduction + Recycle + Reuse) / (Total Generation)
/ 144.3
= 85.3%

9. Calculate a diversion rate and Zero Waste diversion rate for a sample company. What does the example show? Why is it important to look at the whole picture?

10. How Do Businesses Throw Away Money?
Businesses pay for collection each time the bin is services…and most businesses over subscribe for trash service
Businesses pay when empty and partially full bins are dumped
Un-flattened cardboard boxes and bags of air, waste bin space
It costs to dispose of recyclables in the trash

11. How to Right-Size Trash Services
Collect baseline data for trash and recycling services
# bins
# pick-ups per week
Size of bins
Get rates for various alternative levels of service
Obtain waste conversion chart
Create data forms

12. Example Trash Service Data
ACME Student Cafeteria
3 dumpsters
3-cubic yards each
Picked-up 1 x week each on Wednesday afternoon
$ / month for trash collection
Do we have enough data? When should we audit?

13. Sample Rate Matrix

14. Estimate Actual Volume of Trash Disposed❶
Bin Size ❸ %
Full ❺
% Trash
C.Brd ❼
TOTAL
Per Week
Visual Inspection
Do a visual inspection of the bins when bins are most full prior to collection Wednesday Morning
Bin #1 –Assume 100% full. Cardboard boxes make up about 75% of the bin and they are not flat. Trash bags makeup the other 25%
Bin #2 – 50% full with only cardboard boxes that are not flattened.
Bin #3 – A couple loose bags of trash. Assume the bin is 25% full.

15. ❶
Bin Size ❸ %
Full ❺
% Trash
C.Brd
1.  3CY
 100%
25%
.75CY
75%
2.25CY 
 2. 3CY
50% 
100%
1.5CY 
3. 3CY 
25%  ❼
TOTAL
Per Week
3.75CY
❶ Size of bin in cubic yard
❸Estimate how full the bin is in %
❺% of each material type based on total volume
❺ Below dashed line multiply ❶ x ❸ x ❺ to get cubic yards per day of each material type
❼Add columns to get total weights per day

16. Conversion Chart Weights per CU Yard Converged 2013 EPA 1993
Recycle Mania 200
Cal Recycle
King Co
NRC MS
GEN
Average Suggested
OCC
50-100
100
mix paper
110/205
484
363.5
875
404
bottles
30-40
200 35 25
Cans 65 62 54
Commingle B&C
39.5
Food
1500
1443 FEECO
1070
253
1364
Green Waste
463.4
350
581.7
Trash 90 68
225 75
114.5

17. Analyze the Data Use accurate conversion tables
Do your estimates in both weight and volumetric measurement
Review rate matrix
Pay attention to data that seems inaccurate
Look for data that you weren’t expecting

18. Analyze the Data Trash Cardboard 1.5 CY week 3.75 CY week
Optimal Trash Service Level:
One 1.5-cubic yard 1 x Week
Optimal Recycle Service Level:
One 4-cubic yard 1 x Week
Cost Per Month
= $140.36
= $0
Conversion = lb/CY
Conversion = lb/CY
1.5 x x 52/12 = 744 lb/month
744 / 2000 =
.372 Tons per Month
3.75 x 100 x 52/12 = 1625 lb/month
1625 / 2000 =
.81 Tons per Month

19. Right-Sizing Benefits
Before
After
Level of Trash Service
 39 CY / month for Trash only
 6.5 CY / month for Trash
 Cost
$ / month 
$ / month 
Recycling
None
16CY / month
# of Bins
3 total for trash only
2 total / 1 each trash and cardboard
Cost Reduction = $701.83
Recycling diversion was 0% now = 68%
Reduction in total # of bins onsite (property space has a value)
Potential for fewer truck trips
Better understanding of what’s still in trash
…next steps

20. More Right Sizing

21. Complete the worksheet example on right-sizing
Complete the worksheet example on right-sizing. What are the key outcomes?

22. Information to Action
Use the gathered data to implement reduction, reuse and recycling strategies

23. Sierra Nevada Brewery Working toward Zero Waste goal
Diversion stagnated
Needed to identify next steps and materials still being disposed

28. Compare Weight –vs-Volume
Composition by Weight
Composition by Volume

29. Review the Rate Matrix

30. Look for Opportunities
What are the next steps?
Is there low hanging fruit?
Most volume
Most value
What are the problematic materials?
Most toxic
Where are the service gaps?

31. Track Track weights Track volume Track cost Track rebate
Track quantity
TRACK IT ALL!

32. Let’s bring this lesson together by doing one last activity
Let’s bring this lesson together by doing one last activity. Looking back at exercise #2, provide at least one scenario for improvement. (look upstream, look at costs, look at options)