Construction waste diversion rate calculator
Enter the tons that went to each place on your project and see the diversion rate under both the LEED v4.1 method and the LEED v5 method, with an estimate of the points. It is a planning tool for the waste credit, built from the rating system text, and it shows which of your numbers are doing the work.
- WeightsTons by stream
- Methodsv4.1 and v5
- PointsA planning estimate
Estimate your diversion rate
How it works
The two methods in plain terms
The credit counts weight, and the two versions count it differently.12
| Version | How diversion is counted | Points |
|---|---|---|
| LEED v4.1 | Diverted weight divided by total weight. Reach 50% across at least two streams, or 75% across at least three, or use a certified commingled facility path | 1 or 2 |
| LEED v5 | Source separated material counts 100%, salvaged material 200%, and mixed debris at the facility's average rate, at most 35% unless a third party verified it. Alternative daily cover and incineration count as waste. At 50%, at least 10% of diverted material must be salvaged or source separated, and at 75%, at least 25% | 1 or 2 |
Excavated soil, land clearing debris and hazardous waste are left out of the calculation, so do not enter them. This calculator follows the stream and share tests from the rating system text and does not model the commingled facility paths or the reduction option.
Tracking a LEED project?
We set up the containers by stream and give you monthly weights and a running rate, so the numbers in this calculator come from real tickets.
Using the result
What to do with the number
The estimate tells you where to push.
- 01
Under 50%?
Look at the biggest landfill row. Is there a stream you could separate at the source, such as wood, metal or concrete?
- 02
Close to 75%?
Check the stream count in v4.1 and the salvaged or source separated share in v5. A missing third stream or a low share can cost you the second point.
- 03
Lots of mixed debris?
The rate you enter matters, and v5 assumes at most 35% unless it is third party verified. Ask the facility for its verified rate.
- 04
Keep the tickets
The credit needs a final report on waste streams. Keep a weight record for every haul by stream.
Common questions
Diversion rate questions
How is the diversion rate calculated?
Under LEED v4.1, it is diverted weight divided by total weight. Under v5, source separated material counts 100%, salvaged material 200% and mixed debris at the facility's average recycling rate.
What counts as diverted?
Material sent to recycling or reuse. Alternative daily cover and incineration count as waste in both versions, and v4.1 includes only wood converted to fuel among waste to energy.
Should I include soil in the calculator?
No. Excavated soil and land clearing debris are excluded from the credit calculation.
What if I do not know the mixed debris recycling rate?
Leave it blank. The calculator then assumes none of it was diverted. In v5 an unverified rate is capped at 35%.
Is this the official LEED calculation?
No. It is a planning estimate built from the rating system text. Your LEED team submits the credit using the rating system and reference guide.
Can you provide the weights?
Yes. See our diversion reports, or call sales at (888) 588-2607.
Weights by stream, every month
Local providers do the work; we hold the contract, own the problems, and send one bill. If a pickup gets missed, we contact the provider the same business day.
Read next
Sources
- U.S. Green Building Council, LEED v4.1 Building Design and Construction rating system, MR credit Construction and Demolition Waste Management. Checked November 3, 2026. usgbc.org
- U.S. Green Building Council, LEED v5 Building Design and Construction rating system, July 2026, MRc5 Construction and Demolition Waste Diversion. Checked November 3, 2026. usgbc.org