Reuse vs recycling on your diversion report

Reuse ranks above recycling in the US EPA’s waste management hierarchy, so a gaylord resold for another trip counts for more than the same box baled for fiber. To show that on a diversion report, record each line of a cleanout by outcome (reused, recycled, disposed) with quantities, and keep the paperwork for each pickup.

Where does reuse sit in the hierarchy?

The EPA’s non-hazardous materials and waste management hierarchy ranks source reduction and reuse at the top, then recycling and composting, then energy recovery, and treatment and disposal last. Reusing a container keeps the energy and material already in it working. Recycling recovers the material but has to remake the product.

How do you record a cleanout by outcome?

Keep the lot manifest and add an outcome column. For each line:

• Reused: sold or given for its original use (gaylords, totes, pallets, racks).
• Recycled: sent for material recovery (fiber, scrap steel, plastic regrind).
• Disposed: landfill or other disposal.

Record a count and, where your report needs it, an estimated weight. A container’s weight per unit times the count is usually good enough for planning; use scale tickets where you have them.

What documentation should you keep?

A bill of lading or pickup receipt for each truck, listing what left the site. For recycling lines, ask for scale weights. Keep them with your manifest. If your company reports under a particular program or certification, check what evidence that program accepts.

Sources

• US EPA: Sustainable Materials Management, waste management hierarchy