FURI | Fall 2019

The Optimal Waste Reduction (OWR) Tool

In order to understand economic, social, and environmental impacts of recycling, i.e., the triple bottom line, people rely on the Waste Reduction Model (WARM), a descriptive modeling tool developed by the EPA. Users input individual material tonnages and WARM calculates total GHG emissions, labor hours, wages, and taxes produced. The Optimal Waste Reduction (OWR) tool will transform WARM into a prescriptive decision support tool. Users will input triple bottom line goals and then the OWR tool will calculate the optimal amount of each material to divert in order to meet or surpass the user’s goals.