Waste Diversion Studies: Overview
A waste diversion study identifies and quantifies the amount of waste material a community keeps out of landfills (through reuse, recycling, composting, source reduction, and other strategies). This requires collection of data from waste and recycling haulers, recycling centers (both buy-back and drop-off centers), commercial and industrial entities, government agencies, transfer stations, and landfills.
The major steps involved in designing and conducting a diversion study include:
Design the Study
- Identify the time and resources required
- Assess community characteristics and where to capture data
- Determine data collection approach and sampling method
Conduct the Study
- Contact service providers and collect available data
- Collect data from generators
Analyze Results
- Compile, analyze, and perform quality control checks on data
- Calculate total generation amount and diversion rate
RATIONALE
Before a city can set a realistic diversion goal, they should determine their baseline diversion rate (volume diverted as a percentage of total landfill volume). This will help with setting benchmarks, and create a method for measurement progress.
EFFORT REQUIRED
A Waste Diversion Study is a highly technical effort. Some communities elect to hire consultants to design and administer the work. Communities that elect to self-conduct a study should be aware of technical elements that could significantly skewer results. For example, it is best to obtain representative data through a variety of collection methods (including phone calls, mailings, and on-site surveys) and to have rigorous data sorting techniques to avoid double counting as the information is compiled from different sources.
BENEFITS
- Identify previously overlooked diversion sources (e.g., source reduction, recycling)
- Raise government and community awareness of diversion programs
- Identify non-residential diversion activities
- Evaluate the progress of existing individual diversion efforts and obtain feedback from program participants
RISKS
- Faulty methodologies that yield inaccurate data and analyses
ACTION AGENT(S)
- Environmental Management Department
- Solid Waste Management/Recycling Department
- Public Works Department
COST
Staff time is usually the largest expenditure for a waste diversion study, and the amount of time required to collect the initial information on residential programs, franchise hauler data, etc. can vary. The California Integrated Waste Management Board provides an example of a jurisdiction that performed approximately 200 business audits, and completed the study in under 600 total hours.
Waste disposal sites for solid waste from human activities.The disposal of waste other than through incineration or the use of landfills. Examples include reuse and recycling.A mixture of decayed plants and other organic material that is used to enrich soil with nutrients.The collection, reprocessing, marketing, and use of materials that were diverted or recovered from the solid waste stream.
