CRP Data Tracking, Reporting & Program Evaluation 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'diversion rate' in recycling program reporting, and how is it typically calculated?
- 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 (Correct answer)
- The number of tons recycled per collection route per day
- The ratio of residential to commercial recycling tonnage in a program
- The fraction of collected recyclables that successfully reach end-markets
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which data collection method is used to determine the composition of a community's waste stream for recycling program planning?
- Waste characterization study (waste sort) (Correct answer)
- Hauler tonnage report
- Material recovery facility (MRF) bale weight log
- Consumer survey on recycling habits
Correct 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.
Question 3: A state requires recyclers to report annual recycling tonnage. What is the most accurate data source for this report?
- Certified scale weight tickets from MRFs and processing facilities (Correct answer)
- Hauler vehicle load counts multiplied by estimated average load weight
- Residential survey data on recycling participation frequency
- Container set-out counts multiplied by average bin weight
Correct 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.
Question 4: What is the purpose of tracking 'material-specific recovery rates' separately for each commodity (paper, plastics, metals, glass)?
- To identify which materials are being over- or under-recovered and target program improvements or outreach to specific materials (Correct answer)
- To comply with EPA national reporting requirements for MRF operators
- To calculate per-material commodity revenue for budget forecasting
- To satisfy ISO 14001 environmental management documentation requirements
Correct 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.
Question 5: Which performance benchmark is SWANA (Solid Waste Association of North America) most associated with providing for the recycling profession?
- Industry benchmarking data for cost per ton, diversion rates, and MRF efficiency metrics across North American programs (Correct answer)
- Mandatory certification standards for all MRF operators in the US
- Legal compliance templates for state recycling regulations
- Annual rankings of best-performing recycling programs by city size
Correct 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.
Question 6: What is the difference between 'gross diversion' and 'net diversion' in recycling program evaluation?
- Gross diversion counts all material collected for recycling; net diversion subtracts residue and contaminants that ultimately go to disposal after MRF processing (Correct answer)
- Gross diversion includes composting; net diversion counts only recycling
- Gross diversion counts residential tonnage; net diversion adds commercial tonnage
- Gross diversion is reported before processing; net diversion is reported after end-market rejection rates are applied
Correct 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.
CRP Data Tracking, Reporting & Program Evaluation 1
What is a 'diversion rate' in recycling program reporting, and how is it typically calculated?