Estimating Environmental Benefits from Source Reduction, Reuse & Recycling
This calculator generates estimates of the environmental benefits of source reduced, reused, recycled, land filled, or incinerated materials in a study area — states, counties, towns, colleges, or businesses.
The calculator is based on per ton figures of the estimated energy use and emissions from several lifecycle analysis studies. The estimates are average figures based on "typical" facilities and operating characteristics existing in the US. The calculator incorporates U.S. EPA's most recent WARM calculator, as well as facts and figures from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Steel Recycling Institute, the Glass Packaging Institute, and the U.S. Climate Technology Cooperation Gateway, to name a few. More facts and figures can be found cited throughout the Calculator.
The Output Tables provided by the Calculator are intended to be used as references by waste prevention officials and advocates in preparing outreach materials such as press releases, presentation slides, educational curricula, and articles.
By documenting some of the more important benefits of source reduction, reuse, and recycling, the Calculator can be used to educate the public, legislators, and others about these benefits, assist state and municipal employees to better understand the impacts of their waste management programs, support market development efforts, and to increase the public’s understanding of source reduction, reuse, and recycling as a sustainable environmental strategy.
