Data Tracking, Reporting & Program Evaluation Flashcards

What is a 'diversion rate' in recycling program reporting, and how is it typically calculated?

Answer: The percentage of total waste generated that is diverted from landfill through recycling, composting, or reuse — calculated as diverted tons divided by total waste generated tons

Diversion rate = tons diverted (recycled + composted + reused) / (tons diverted + tons landfilled/incinerated), expressed as a percentage, measuring how much waste is kept out of disposal.

Which data collection method is used to determine the composition of a community's waste stream for recycling program planning?

Answer: Waste characterization study (waste sort)

A waste characterization study involves physically sorting and weighing samples of refuse to determine what materials are present and in what proportions, providing the baseline for program design.

A state requires recyclers to report annual recycling tonnage. What is the most accurate data source for this report?

Answer: Certified scale weight tickets from MRFs and processing facilities

Certified scale weight tickets provide legally defensible, accurate tonnage data because they come from calibrated scales at regulated facilities, unlike estimates from counts or surveys.

What is the purpose of tracking 'material-specific recovery rates' separately for each commodity (paper, plastics, metals, glass)?

Answer: To identify which materials are being over- or under-recovered and target program improvements or outreach to specific materials

Material-specific recovery rates pinpoint which streams are performing well or poorly, allowing coordinators to focus investments and education on underperforming materials rather than the program as a whole.

Which performance benchmark is SWANA (Solid Waste Association of North America) most associated with providing for the recycling profession?

Answer: Industry benchmarking data for cost per ton, diversion rates, and MRF efficiency metrics across North American programs

SWANA publishes benchmarking studies and data that allow recycling programs to compare their cost per ton, diversion rates, and operational metrics against peer programs across North America.

What is the difference between 'gross diversion' and 'net diversion' in recycling program evaluation?

Answer: Gross diversion counts all material collected for recycling; net diversion subtracts residue and contaminants that ultimately go to disposal after MRF processing

Gross diversion counts everything collected under a recycling program, while net diversion removes the residue and contaminants that end up in landfill anyway after processing, providing a truer measure of actual landfill avoidance.