Landfill Diversion Rate Calculator
Enter your total waste generated along with the amounts recycled and composted to calculate what percentage of waste was diverted away from landfill.
What Is Landfill Diversion Rate?
Landfill diversion rate measures the percentage of total waste that is kept out of landfills through recycling, composting, reuse, or other alternative disposal methods. It’s a broader metric than a simple recycling rate because it accounts for all diversion streams, not just recyclables.
The Formula
This calculator uses the standard formula: Diversion Rate (%) = [(Recycled + Composted/Reused) / Total Waste] × 100. Whatever isn’t diverted is assumed to be sent to landfill (or incineration without energy recovery, depending on how your local system counts it).
How to Use the Result
Many cities and organizations set diversion rate targets (commonly 50-90%) as part of zero-waste or sustainability initiatives. Comparing your rate to these benchmarks can help identify opportunities to add composting programs or improve recycling participation.
- For general educational and tracking purposes only.
- Local waste categorization rules vary, so official municipal diversion figures may use different accounting methods.