February 8, 2024

A Waste Reduction Model for GHG emissions

On December 26, 2023, EPA released an updated waste reduction model (WARM). This tool is designed to help solid waste planners and organizations calculate potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings across many materials management practices. These operations include source reduction, recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, combustion, and landfilling. WARM now recognizes 61 specific material types, mostly from municipal solid wastes and construction and demolition debris.

GHG savings are calculated by comparing the estimated emissions from solid waste management practices. The model can compare different operations to each other while calculating the potential savings and GHG emissions from each. WARM version 16 is the current model and includes updates to food waste, mixed electronics, wood production wastes, and economic factors.

A comprehensive list of background documentation, including user guides, overviews, and material-specific information, is provided. EPA also created a list of frequent questions about the WARM model to address common problems people have faced during its use.

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Disclaimer

Considerable care has been exercised in preparing this document; however, McCoy and Associates, Inc. makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with the publication of this information. McCoy and Associates, Inc. expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the violation of any federal, state, or municipal law or regulation with which this information may conflict. McCoy and Associates, Inc. does not undertake any duty to ensure the continued accuracy of this information.

This document addresses issues of a general nature related to the federal RCRA regulations. Persons evaluating specific circumstances dealing with the RCRA regulations should review state and local laws and regulations, which may be more stringent than federal requirements. In addition, the assistance of a qualified professional should be enlisted to address any site-specific circumstances.