{
    "name": "Recycling Carbon Savings Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/recycling-carbon-savings-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/recycling-carbon-savings-calculator.md",
    "category": "Energy & environment",
    "description": "Estimate the greenhouse-gas emissions avoided by recycling aluminium, paper, plastics and glass, using the per-kg emission factors you choose.",
    "summary": "Recycling avoids emissions because recycled material replaces virgin production. Multiply the mass of each material by an avoided-emissions factor and add them up.",
    "also_called": [
        "Recycling CO2 calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "mass_al",
            "label": "Aluminium recycled",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "10",
            "unit": "kg",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "f_al",
            "label": "Aluminium factor",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "9",
            "unit": "kg CO₂e/kg",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "mass_paper",
            "label": "Paper and card recycled",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "100",
            "unit": "kg",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "f_paper",
            "label": "Paper and card factor",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "0.5",
            "unit": "kg CO₂e/kg",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "mass_plastic",
            "label": "Plastics recycled",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "20",
            "unit": "kg",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "f_plastic",
            "label": "Plastics factor",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "1",
            "unit": "kg CO₂e/kg",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "mass_glass",
            "label": "Glass recycled",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "50",
            "unit": "kg",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "f_glass",
            "label": "Glass factor",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "0.3",
            "unit": "kg CO₂e/kg",
            "optional": true
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "total_kg",
            "label": "Emissions avoided",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "total_t",
            "label": "In tonnes",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "mass_kg",
            "label": "Material recycled",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "per_kg",
            "label": "Average saving per kg",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "saved_al",
            "label": "From aluminium",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "saved_paper",
            "label": "From paper and card",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "saved_plastic",
            "label": "From plastics",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "saved_glass",
            "label": "From glass",
            "format": "number"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Avoided emissions = Σ (Mass of material × Avoided-emissions factor for that material)",
        "variables": {
            "Mass": "kg of each material sent for recycling",
            "Factor": "kg CO₂e avoided per kg recycled, from the methodology you use"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "mass_al": "10",
            "f_al": "9",
            "mass_paper": "100",
            "f_paper": "0.5",
            "mass_plastic": "20",
            "f_plastic": "1",
            "mass_glass": "50",
            "f_glass": "0.3"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Aluminium 10 × 9 = 90; paper 100 × 0.5 = 50; plastics 20 × 1 = 20; glass 50 × 0.3 = 15 kg CO₂e.",
            "Total: 90 + 50 + 20 + 15 = 175 kg CO₂e, or 0.175 t."
        ],
        "result": "With these example factors, recycling 180 kg of mixed material avoids about 175 kg CO₂e, more than half of it from 10 kg of aluminium."
    },
    "interpretation": "The result is only as good as the factors. Published factors differ by country, by what they assume recycled material replaces and by whether collection and transport are included, so use one consistent source and name it when reporting.",
    "assumptions": [
        "Factors are net avoided emissions per kg collected for recycling.",
        "All collected material is actually recycled."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "The default factors are illustrative examples, not official values."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "Why does aluminium save so much?",
            "answer": "Making aluminium from ore is very energy-intensive, while remelting scrap needs only a small fraction of that energy."
        },
        {
            "question": "Where do I find factors?",
            "answer": "Government greenhouse-gas conversion factor tables and waste-model tools publish factors per material; use the one that matches your reporting framework."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Waste Diversion Rate Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/waste-diversion-rate-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Electricity Emissions Intensity Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/electricity-emissions-intensity-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Tree Planting Carbon Estimate Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/tree-planting-carbon-estimate-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": null,
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}