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Simple As 1-2-3 Waste Audit

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Passaic County, New Jersey's Office Of Recycling And Solid Waste Programs Is Pleased To Be Able To Provide You With These Materials For Use By Other States, Districts And The General Public.

All We Ask Is That You Give Credit To Passaic County, New Jersey And Forward Two (2) Copies Of Your Material For Our Files To:

Passaic County Office Of Recycling And Solid Waste Programs
1310 Route 23 North
Wayne, NJ 07404

 

Print Out This Page To Use Audit Forms

 Introduction

The State of New Jersey generates over 14 million tons of solid waste every year. This figure translates into the average family of four producing nearly 40 lbs. of garbage per day or over seven tons per year! With these staggering figures in mind, it is clear that solid waste management must be the responsibility of every citizen in New Jersey.

Through the application of waste audits, waste reducing practices and recycling plans, we will be able to meet the challenge of reaching our goal of a 60% reduction in solid waste from recycling. This rate can only be achieved by making the commitment to design programs and establish purchasing procedures that will advance sound waste management goals.

What Is A Waste Audit?

A waste audit is a procedure, as outlined in this plan, to guide an individual or team of individuals through a series of steps which will provide data on how much waste is generated, disposed of and recycled.

How To Complete The Waste Audit

Simply follow the steps indicated and refer to Appendix A for help in determining tonnage and percentage calculations. Duplicate the plan for each facility to be audited. A sample of a completed waste audit and plan is provided to assist in guiding you through the waste audit steps.

The Benefits Of A Waste Audit And Waste Management Plan

Many businesses, industries and institutions are unaware of the actual composition of their waste stream. A waste audit puts a focused look on how materials are purchased, what is brought in to a facility and what goes out of a facility as waste, pinpointing just what and how many materials are actually recyclable.

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Section 1
Background Information

Name of Company  
Contact Person  
Address  
City, State, Zip  
Phone  
Fax  
E-Mail  
Nature of Business  
No. of Employees  

Section 2
Waste Composition

Step 1. Waste Disposed

Instructions:

  • Use Appendix A information for estimated container capacity tonnage’s.
  • Column C = Column A x Column B x Estimated % Filled
  • Column D = Column C x 12
  • Total Column D for Step 1 grand total.
  (A) (B)   (C) (D)
Container
Type
(dumpster
or
compactor)		 Container
Size
(cu. yds.)		 Container
Capacity
(tons)		 Frequency
of
collection
(per
month)		 Estimated
%
Filled		 Total
Weight
(tons/
month)		 Total
Weight
(tons/
year)
             
             
             
             
Step 1 Grand Total in tons/ yr.  
Step 2. Materials Recycled

Instructions:

  • Use actual recycling tonnage documentation and market names or drop-off sites used by the facility to complete this section.
Material Quantity
(tons/yr.)		 Recycling Market
Name and Address
Newspaper    
Glass    
Aluminum    
Tin/bi-metal    
High grade paper    
Mixed paper    
Corrugated    
Plastics    
Scrap metals    
Construction/demolition    
Tires    
Used motor oil    
Auto batteries    
Leaves    
Grass    
Food waste    
Other    
Other    
Step 2 Grand Total   in tons/yr
Step 3. Total Waste Stream

Instructions:

  • Transfer grand totals from Steps 1 and 2 to calculate the total solid waste stream.
Waste Disposed + Material Recycled = Total Solid Waste Stream
Step 1 Grand Total + Step 2 Grand Total = Step 3 Grand Total
  tons/yr +   tons/yr. =   tons/yr.
Step 4. Waste Composition

Instructions:

  • Complete Column A (estimating percents from Appendix B tonnage information using formulas)
  • Continue to Step 5 to complete Column B
  • Transfer tonnage’s for individual materials recycled from Step 2
  • Continue to Step 6 to complete Column C
  (A) (B) (C) (D)
Material Estimated
Material
Generated
(% of
waste
stream)		 Tonnage
Generated
Per
Year
(from
Step 5)		 Tonnage
Material
Recycled
(from
Step 2)		 Current
Recycling
Rate
(from
Step 6)
Newspaper        
Glass        
Aluminum        
Tin/bi-metal        
High grade paper        
Mixed paper        
Corrugated        
Plastics        
Scrap metals        
Construction/demolition        
Tires        
Used motor oil        
Auto batteries        
Leaves        
Grass        
Food waste        
Other        
Other        
Step 5. Tonnage Generated Per Year For Each Material To Determine Data For Step 4 - Column B (Repeat For Each Material)

Instructions:

  • Transfer totals from Steps 4 and 3 to calculate total tonnage’s for each material
Estimated Material Generated x Total
Waste Stream		 = Total Tons/Yr. Generated
Step 4 (A)
% Totals		 x Step 3
Grand Total		 = Step 5
Totals
  tons/yr. x   tons/yr. =   tons/yr.
Step 6. Current Recycling Rate For Each Material To Determine Data For Step 4 - Column C (Repeat For Each Material)

Instructions:

  • Transfer totals from Steps 2 and 4 to calculate the recycling rate for each material
Tonnage
Material Recycled		 ÷ Tonnage
Generated Per Yr.		 x 100 = Recycling
Rate
Step 2 Totals ÷ Step 4 (B)
Totals		 x 100 = Step 6
% Totals
  tons/yr. ÷   tons/yr. x 100 =   %
Step 7. Calculating The Overall Recycling Rate

Instructions:

  • Transfer grand totals from Steps 2 and 3 to calculate the overall reduction in solid waste from recycling
Tonnage
Material Recycled		 ÷ Total
Waste Stream		 x 100 = Overall
Recycling Rate
Step 2
Grand Total		 ÷ Step 3
Grand Total		 x 100 = Step 7 %
Grand Total
  tons/yr. ÷   tons/yr. x 100 =   %
Section 3
Solid Waste Collection Information

Instructions:

  • Check appropriate box to indicate the type of waste collection you have.
  municipal curbside collection
  private curbaside collection
If private collection
hauler hame		  

Section 4
Waste Management And Recycling Plan

For all recyclable materials (including all those listed in Section 2) that are generated but not currently recycled by your facility, detail information on how a program might be instituted and what markets will be used and how materials will be transported to the recycling markets. Additionally, review potential areas for source reduction and buying products with recycled content to help "close the loop" and detail these measures below.
Use Additional Pages As Necessary

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Solid Waste Conversions

Estimated tonnage’s for containers and rear loaders:

  • 2 cu yd container = .12 tons
  • 4 cu yd container = .24 tons
  • 6 cu yd container = .36 tons
  • 8 cu yd container = .48 tons
  • 10 cu yd container = .61 tons
  • 12 cu yd rear loader = 2 tons
  • 15 cu yd rear loader = 3 tons
  • 20 cu yd rear loader = 4 tons
  • 30 cu yd rear loader = 5 tons
  • 40 cu yd rear loader = 7 tons

Estimated tonnage’s for compactors:

  • Compactor size in cubic yards ÷ the compaction ratio (4) = compacted yards
  • Compacted yards / 3.3 = Tonnage

Source: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection-12/91

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Conversion Of Volume To Weight For Recyclable Materials

Material Volume Weight
(lbs)		 Weight
(tons)
Newsprint, loose 1 cy 600 0.3000
Office paper 1 cy 400 0.2000
Corrugated, loose 1 cy 285 0.1425
Corrugated, baled 1 cy 507 0.2535
Glass, unbroken 1cy 660 0.3300
Glass, broken 1 cy 1125 .05625
Glass, crushed, mech. 1 cy 2060 1.0300
Glass, uncrushed 55-gal dr. 300 0.1500
Aluminum cans, whole 1 cy 74 0.0370
Aluminum cans, flat 1 cy 250 0.1250
Ferrous cans, whole 1 cy 150 0.0750
Ferrous cans, flat 1 cy 850 0.4250
PETE, soda bottles, 1 cy 30 0.0150
HDPE, milk bottles 1 cy 25 0.0125
PETE & HDPE mixed 1 cy 30 0.0150
PS 1 cy 10 0.0050
Leaves, uncompacted 1 cy 400 0.2000
Leaves, compacted 1 cy 1000 0.5000
Leaves, vacuumed 1 cy 700 0.3500
Grass, uncompacted 1 cy 740 0.3700
Wood chips 1 cy 500 0.2500
Wood waste (pallets) 1 cy 286 0.1430
Motor oil 1 gal 7 0.0035
Tires, cars 1 20 0.0100
Tires, trucks 1 90 0.0450
Auto batteries 1 33 0.0165
Concrete, brick & block 1 cy 4000 2.0000
Asphalt (milled, ripped , crushed) 1 sq. yd. 115 0.0575
Food waste, solid & liquid fats 55-gal dr. 413 0.2063

Note: Information obtained from NJDEP Office of Recycling-1992

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Sample Waste Audit

Background Information

Name of Company ACME PRODUCTIONS
Contact Person J. ACME
Address 4321 ACME DRIVE
City, State, Zip ANYTOWN, NJ 07503
Phone 973-234-5678
Fax 973-234-5656
E-Mail jacme@acme.com
Nature of Business PRODUCTION OF WIDGETS
No. of Employees 50

Step 1. WASTE DISPOSED

Instructions:

  • Use Appendix A information for estimated container capacity tonnage’s.
  • Column C = Column A x Column B x Estimated % Filled
  • Column D = Column C x 12
  • Total Column D for Step 1 grand total.
  (A) (B)   (C) (D)
Container
Type
(dumpster
or
compactor)		 Container
Size
(cu. yds.)		 Container
Capacity
(tons)		 Frequency
of
collection
(per
month)		 Estimated
%
Filled		 Total
Weight
(tons/
month)		 Total
Weight
(tons/
year)
dumpster 35 6 2 82% 9.8 118
Step 1 Grand Total in tons/ yr. 118
Step 2. MATERIALS RECYCLED

Instructions:

  • Use actual recycling tonnage documentation and market names or drop-off sites used by the facility to complete this section.
Material Quantity
(tons/yr.)		 Recycling Market
Name and Address
Newspaper 0  
Glass 2 Approved Recycling, Paterson, NJ
Aluminum 0  
Tin/bi-metal 0  
High grade paper 35 Approved Recycling, Paterson, NJ
Mixed paper 0  
Corrugated 20 Approved Recycling, Paterson, NJ
Plastics 0  
Scrap metals 2 Approved Recycling, Paterson, NJ
Construction/demolition 0  
Tires 0  
Used motor oil 0  
Auto batteries 0  
Leaves 0  
Grass 0  
Food waste 0  
Other 1 Approved Recycling, Paterson, NJ
Step 2 Grand Total 60 in tons/yr.
Step 3. TOTAL WASTE STREAM

Instructions:

  • Transfer grand totals from Steps 1 and 2 to calculate the total solid waste stream.
Waste Disposed + Material Recycled = Total Solid Waste Stream
Step 1 Grand Total + Step 2 Grand Total = Step 3 Grand Total
118 tons/yr. + 60 tons/yr. = 178 tons/yr.
Step 4. WASTE COMPOSITION

Instructions:

  • Complete Column A (estimating percents from Appendix B tonnage information using formulas)
  • Continue to Step 5 to complete Column B
  • Transfer tonnage’s for individual materials recycled from Step 2
  • Continue to Step 6 to complete Column C
  (A) (B) (C) (D)
Material Estimated
Material
Generated
(% of
waste
stream)		 Tonnage
Generated
Per
Year
(from
Step 5)		 Tonnage
Material
Recycled
(from
Step 2)		 Current
Recycling
Rate
(from
Step 6)
Newspaper 0% 0 0 0%
Glass 4% 7 2 29%
Aluminum 0% 0 0 0%
Tin/bi-metal 13% 23 0 0%
High grade paper 42% 75 35 47%
Mixed paper 10% 18 0 0%
Corrugated 22% 39 20 51%
Plastics 4% 7 0 0%
Scrap metals 3% 5 2 40%
Construction/demolition 0% 0 0 0%
Tires 0% 0 0 0%
Used motor oil 0% 0 0 0%
Auto batteries 0% 0 0 0%
Leaves 0% 0 0 0%
Grass 0% 0 0 0%
Food waste 0% 0 0 0%
Other 2% 4 1 25%
Step 5. Tonnage Generated Per Year For Each Material To Determine Data For Step 4 - Column B

Instructions:

  • Transfer totals from Steps 4 and 3 to calculate total tonnage’s for each material.
Estimated Scrap
Metal Generated		 x Total
Waste Stream		 = Total Tons/Yr. Generated
Step 4 (A)
% Totals		 x Step 3
Grand Total		 = Step 5
Totals
3 tons/yr. x 178 tons/yr. = 5.34 tons/yr.
Step 6. Current Recycling Rate For Each Material To Determine Data For Step 4 - Column C (Repeat For Each Material)

Instructions:

  • Transfer totals from Steps 2 and 4 to calculate the recycling rate for each material.
Scrap Metal
Recycled		 ÷ Tonnage
Generated Per Yr.		 x 100 = Recycling
Rate
Step 2 Totals ÷ Step 4 (B)
Totals		 x 100 = Step 6
% Totals
2 tons/yr. ÷ 5 tons/yr. x 100 = 40 %
Step 7. Calculating The Overall Recycling Rate

Instructions:

  • Transfer grand totals from Steps 2 and 3 to calculate the overall reduction in solid waste from recycling.
Tonnage
Material Recycled		 ÷ Total
Waste Stream		 x 100 = Overall
Recycling Rate
Step 2
Grand Total		 ÷ Step 3
Grand Total		 x 100 = Step 7 %
Grand Total
60 tons/yr. ÷ 178 tons/yr. x 100 = 34 %
Section 3 - Solid Waste Collection Information

Instructions:

  • Check appropriate box to indicate the type of waste collection you have.
x municipal curbside collection
  private curbaside collection
If private collection
hauler hame		  

Section 4 - Waste Management And Recycling Plan
Arrangements are being made with our current recycling vendor, Approved Recycling, for collection of additional materials listed in section 4 that are recyclable. Within two months, all mandated materials will be recycled. Establishment of additional collection stations and a monitoring program will assure 100% compliance for all recyclables. The company will begin to purchase products with recycled content by first looking at all currently used items and then set a goal of a 20 percent increase of those products within the next year. Further, source reduction efforts are planned to begin over the next six months to include a new double sided copier, elimination of throw away coffee cups, reusable packing boxes, use of a new supplier that will eliminate multi-layered packaging that is non-recyclable. Reporting to the local Recycling Coordinator will also be done by the recycling vender with a copy sent to our office for review.
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