Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: HDPE • Feedstock • Contamination Rate

Diversion Rate

Term from Recycling industry explained for recruiters

Diversion Rate is a way to measure how much waste is kept out of landfills through recycling, composting, and reuse. Think of it like a score that shows how successful a company or facility is at reducing what gets thrown away. For example, if a business has a 70% diversion rate, it means they're finding ways to reuse or recycle 70% of their materials instead of sending them to landfills. This term is commonly used in sustainability reports and is an important metric for companies trying to meet environmental goals.

Examples in Resumes

Achieved 85% Diversion Rate through implementation of new recycling programs

Led team initiatives that improved facility Diversion Rate from 45% to 75%

Managed waste reduction projects resulting in increased Diversion Rates across multiple locations

Typical job title: "Sustainability Managers"

Also try searching for:

Recycling Coordinator Environmental Specialist Waste Management Specialist Sustainability Coordinator Environmental Program Manager Zero Waste Manager Resource Recovery Specialist

Where to Find Sustainability Managers

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Professional Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you develop a strategy to improve a facility's diversion rate from 50% to 80%?

Expected Answer: A strong answer should include conducting waste audits, identifying major waste streams, implementing new recycling programs, staff training, measuring results, and ongoing program adjustments. Should also mention stakeholder engagement and budget considerations.

Q: How do you measure and verify diversion rates in a large organization?

Expected Answer: Should discuss tracking systems, waste hauler reports, weight tickets, establishing baseline measurements, regular audits, and data verification methods. Should mention importance of consistent measurement methods across facilities.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are some common challenges in improving diversion rates and how would you address them?

Expected Answer: Should mention contamination issues, employee engagement, proper sorting, training needs, and working with vendors. Should provide practical solutions like clear signage, regular training, and feedback systems.

Q: Explain how you would calculate a diversion rate and what factors affect it.

Expected Answer: Should explain the basic formula (diverted materials divided by total waste generated), and discuss various materials that count as diverted. Should mention importance of accurate data collection.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What materials are typically included in diversion rate calculations?

Expected Answer: Should list common materials like paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, glass, organics, and explain basic sorting categories. Should demonstrate understanding of recyclable vs non-recyclable items.

Q: What documentation is needed to track diversion rates?

Expected Answer: Should mention waste hauler reports, weight tickets, recycling records, and basic tracking spreadsheets. Should understand importance of regular recording and reporting.