Estimated Solid Waste Generation Rates
Generation Rates
Solid waste generation rates estimate the amount of waste created by residences or businesses over a certain amount of time (day, year, etc.). Waste generation includes all materials discarded, whether or not they are later recycled or disposed in a landfill. Waste generation rates for residential and commercial activities can be used to estimate the impact of new developments on the local waste stream.
The following links are to pages containing additional information on waste generation rates for commercial, industrial, institutional, residential and service establishments. The tables on these pages contain information extracted from various sources, which are cited. Note that several documents listed were developed by city or county planning or environmental departments. Your city or county planning or environmental agency may also be a source of information for a local project. CalRecycle does not officially endorse any of these rates and cannot validate their accuracy. However, they may be useful in providing a general level of information for planning purposes.
The data on this page is not official CalRecycle data; please read our disclaimer.
Commercial Sector Generation Rates
Note: More recent estimates for waste disposal, diversion, and generation rates are available for a limited number of business groups. These can be found in Table 2 of CalRecycle's 2006 Waste Disposal and Diversion Findings for Selected Industry Groups.
| Waste Generation Source | Gen. Rate | Units of Measure |
Source Date |
Source / Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | 10.53 | lb/employee/day | 2006 |
City of Los Angeles CEQA Thresholds Guide: Your Resource for Preparing CEQA Analyses in Los Angeles
Notes: Does not include generation of construction debris |
|
| Commercial | 5 | lb/1000 sq ft /day | Aug. 1992 |
Co. of Los Angeles Dept. of Regional
Planning, Vesting Tentative Tract No. 47905, etc.
Notes: EIR cites City of LA Dept. of City Planning doc "EIR Manual for Private Projects" as source |
|
| Commercial | 13 | lb/1000 sq ft /day | Apr. 1993 |
Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for
South Gate Commercial Corridors Redevelopment Project
Notes:EIR cites CIWMB Resource Manual, May 1989 |
|
| Commercial | 25 | lb/gross sq ft /day | Jan. 1996 |
Draft Program EIR for Rye Canyon Business
Part, Santa Clarita
Notes: EIR cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Santa Clarita SRRE, 1990 |
|
| Commercial retail | 0.046 | lb/sq ft/day | n/a | Draft EIR for the Central Commercial Redevelopment Project (Monterey Park Redevelopment Agency) Notes: EIR cites Athens Disposal Co. and GRC Redevel. Consultants, 1992 as source | |
| Commercial retail | 0.006 | lb/sq ft/day | Dec. 1991 |
Draft EIR for North Hills Development (Santa Clarita)
Notes: EIR cites City of LA Bureau of Solid Waste, 1989, as source |
|
| Commercial retail | 2.5 | lb/1000 sq ft /day | Apr. 1992 |
Stevenson Ranch Draft EIR (Phase IV) , LA County
Notes: EIR cites source as Ultrasystems |
|
| Office | 6 | lb/1000 sq ft /day | Apr. 1992 |
Stevenson Ranch Draft EIR (Phase IV) , LA
County
Notes: EIR cites source as Ultrasystems |
|
| Office | 0.006 | lb/sq ft/day | Dec. 1991 |
Draft EIR for North Hills Development (Santa Clarita)
Notes: EIR cites City of LA Bureau of Solid Waste, 1989, as source |
|
| Office | 100 | lb/gross sq ft /day | Jan. 1996 |
Draft Program EIR for Rye Canyon Business
Park, Santa Clarita
Notes: EIR cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Santa Clarita SRRE, 1990 |
|
| Office | 1.24 | lb/employee /day | Jul. 1993 | Notes: Final Report: 1992 Washington State Waste Characterization Study, Volume 3: Generator Survey Approach (Washington State Department of Ecology) | |
| Professional office | 0.084 | lb/sq ft/day | n/a |
Draft EIR for the Central Commercial
Redevelopment Project and the Freeway ... (Monterey Park Redevel. Agency)
Notes: EIR cites Athens Disposal Co. and GRC Redevel. Consultants, 1992 as source |
|
| Commercial retail (dry goods) | 4.75 | lb/emp/day | Jul. 1993 | Final Report: 1992 Washington State Waste Characterization Study: Volume 3: Generator Survey Approach (Washington State Department of Ecology) | |
| Auto dealer and service station | 0.9 | lb/100 sq ft/day | May 1997 |
Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans
for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)
Notes: Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste" |
|
| Department store | 3.12 | lb/100 sq ft/day | May 1997 |
Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans
for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)
Notes: Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste" |
|
| Shopping center | 2.5 | lb/100 sq ft/day | May 1997 |
Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans
for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)
Notes: Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste" |
|
| Supermarket | 3.12 | lb/100 sq ft/day | May 1997 |
Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans
for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)
Notes: Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste" |
Residential Sector Generation Rates
| Waste Generation Source | Gen. Rate | Units of Measure | Source Date | Source / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | 12.23 | lb/household/day | 2006 |
City of Los Angeles CEQA Thresholds
Guide:
Your Resource for Preparing CEQA Analyses in Los Angeles (DRAFT)
Notes: Does not include generation of construction debris |
| Multifamily | 4 | lb/dwelling unit /day | Aug. 1992 |
Co. of Los Angeles Dept. of Regional
Planning, Vesting Tentative Tract No. 47905, etc.
Notes: Cites City of LA Dept. of City Planning document "EIR Manual for Private Projects" as source |
| Multifamily | 8.6 | lb/dwelling unit /day | n/a |
Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for
the Central Commercial Redevelopment Project (Monterey Park Redevelopment Agency)
Notes:EIR cites Athens Disposal Co. and GRC Redevel. Consultants, 1992, as source |
| Multifamily | 3.6 | lb/unit/day | Apr. 1993 |
Draft EIR for South Gate Commercial
Corridors Redevelopment Project
Notes: EIR cites City of LA Dept. of City Planning document "EIR Manual for Private Projects" as source |
| Multifamily | 4 | lb/dwelling unit /day | Dec. 1991 |
Draft EIR for North Hills Development
(Santa Clarita)
Notes: EIR cites City of LA Bureau of Solid Waste, 1989, as source |
| Multifamily | 5.31 | lb/dwelling unit /day | Jan. 1996 |
Draft Program EIR for Rye Canyon Business
Park, Santa Clarita
Notes: EIR cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Santa Clarita SRRE, 1990 |
| Residential | 12 | lb/person/day | Apr. 1992 |
Stevenson Ranch Draft EIR (Phase IV) , LA
County
Notes: EIR cites source as Ultrasystems |
| Single Family | 10 | lb/dwelling unit /day | Aug. 1992 |
Co. of Los Angeles Dept. of Regional
Planning, Vesting Tentative Tract No. 47905, etc.
Notes: EIR cites City of LA Dept. of City Planning doc "EIR Manual for Private Projects" as source |
| Single Family | 11.4 | lb/dwelling unit /day | n/a |
Draft EIR for the Central Commercial
Redevelopment Project (Monterey Park Redevelopment Agency)
Notes: EIR cites Athens Disposal Co. and GRC Redevel. Consultants, 1992, as source |
| Single Family | 7.8 | lb/unit/day | Apr. 1993 |
Draft EIR for South Gate Commercial
Corridors Redevelopment Project
Notes: EIR cites City of LA Manual for Private Projects |
| Single Family | 10 | lb/dwelling unit /day | Dec. 1991 |
Draft EIR for North Hills Development
(Santa Clarita)
Notes: EIR cites City of LA Bureau of Solid Waste, 1989, as source |
| Single Family | 9.8 | lb/dwelling unit /day | Jan. 1996 |
Draft Program EIR for Rye Canyon Business
Park, Santa Clarita
Notes: EIR cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Santa Clarita SRRE, 1990 |
Industrial Sector Generation Rates
| Waste Generation Source | Gen. Rate | Units of Measure | Source Date |
Source / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial | 8.93 | lb/employee/day | 2006 |
City of Los Angeles CEQA Thresholds
Guide
: Your Resource for Preparing CEQA Analyses in Los Angeles.
Notes: Does not include generation of construction debris |
| Industrial | 62.5 | lb/1000 sq ft/day | Apr. 1993 |
Draft Environmental Impoact Report (EIR)
for South Gate Commercial Corridors Redevelopment Project
Notes: EIR cites City of LA Manual for Private Projects (rate for manufacturing uses) |
| Industrial | 5 | lb/1000 sq ft/day | Apr. 1992 |
Stevenson Ranch Draft EIR (Phase IV) , LA
County
Notes:EIR cites source as Ultrasystems |
| Industrial | 0.006 | lb/sq ft/day | Dec. 1991 |
Draft EIR for North Hills Development
(Santa Clarita)
Notes: EIR cites City of LA Bureau of Solid Waste, 1989, as source |
| Industrial | 3 | lb/employee /1000 sq ft/day | Jan. 1996 |
Draft Program EIR for Rye Canyon Business
Part, Santa Clarita
Notes: EIR cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Santa Clarita SRRE, 1990 |
| Light industrial | 41.64 | lb/employee/day | Aug. 1992 |
Co. of Los Angeles Dept. of Regional
Planning, Vesting Tentative Tract No. 47905, etc.
Notes: Cites City of LA Dept. of City Planning document "EIR Manual for Private Projects" as source |
| Manufacturing/ warehouse | 1.42 | lb/100 sq ft/day | May 1997 |
Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans
for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)
Notes: Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste" |
| Transportation,/ communication/ utilities |
1.4
9.2 |
lb/100 sq ft/day lb/employee/day |
May 1997 |
Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans
for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)
Notes: Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste" |
| Warehouse | 13.82 | lb/emp/day | Jul. 1993 | Final Report: 1992 Washington State Waste Characterization Study: Volume 3: Generator Survey Approach (Washington State Department of Ecology) |
Institutional Sector Generation Rates
| Waste Generation Source | Gen. Rate | Units of Measure | Source Date |
Source / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education | 3.55 | lb/emp/day | Jul. 1993 | Final Report: 1992 Washington State Waste Characterization Study, Volume 3: Generator Survey Approach (Washington State Department of Ecology) |
| Educational facilities | 0.5 | lb/student/day | Apr. 1992 |
Stevenson Ranch Draft Environmental Impact
Report (EIR) (Phase IV), LA County
Notes: EIR cites source as Ultrasystems |
| Educational institutions | 0.12 | tons/emp/year | 1990 |
Environmental Thresholds and Guidelines
Manual (Santa Barbara County Department of Resource Management)
Notes: Cites Matrix Management Group, et al. "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste", 1988. |
| Government | 0.59 | tons/emp/year | 1990 |
Environmental Thresholds and Guidelines
Manual (Santa Barbara County)
Notes: Cites Matrix Management Group, et al. "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste", 1988. |
| Hospital | 16 | lb/bed/day | May 1997 |
Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans
for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)
Notes: Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste" |
| Nursing/ retirement home | 5 | lb/person/day | May 1997 |
Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans
for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)
Notes: Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste" |
| Public/ institutional | 0.007 | lb/sq ft /day | n/a |
Draft EIR for the Central Commercial
Redevelopment Project (Monterey Park Redevelopment Agency)
Notes: EIR cites Athens Disposal Co. and GRC Redevel. Consultants, 1992 as source |
| School | 0.007 | lb/sq ft/day | Dec. 1991 |
Draft EIR for North Hills Development
(Santa Clarita)
Notes: EIR cites City of LA Bureau of Solid Waste, 1989, as source; assumes 22.5 sq.ft./student |
| School | 0.6 | lb/person/day | May 1997 |
Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans
for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)
Notes: Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste" |
| Schools | 1 | lb/student/day | Jan. 1996 |
Draft Program EIR for Rye Canyon Business
Park, Santa Clarita
Notes: EIR cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Santa Clarita SRRE, 1990 |
Service Sector Generation Rates
Note: More recent estimates for waste disposal, diversion, and generation rates are available for a limited number of business groups. These can be found in Table 2 of CalRecycle's 2006 Waste Disposal and Diversion Findings for Selected Industry Groups.
| Waste Generation Source | Gen. Rate | Units of Measure | Source Date |
Source / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golf course | 0.5 | lb/golfer/day | Apr. 1992 |
Stevenson Ranch Draft Enviromental Impact
Report (EIR) (Phase IV) , LA County
Notes: EIR cites source as Ultrasystems |
| Hotel | 2 | lb/room/day | Apr. 1992 |
Stevenson Ranch Draft EIR (Phase IV) , LA
County
Notes: EIR cites source as Ultrasystems |
| Hotel/motel | 4 | lb/room/day | Dec. 1991 |
Draft EIR for North Hills Development
(Santa Clarita)
Notes: EIR cites City of LA Bureau of Solid Waste, 1989, as source; assumes 750 SF/room |
| Hotel/motel | 2 | lb/room/day | May 1997 |
Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans
for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)
Notes: Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste" |
| Motel | 3.6 | lb/unit/day | Apr. 1993 |
Draft EIR for South Gate Commercial
Corridors Redevelopment Project
Notes: Cites City of LA Dept. of City Planning document "EIR Manual for Private Projects" as source |
| Other services* | 3.12 | lb/100 sq ft /day | May 1997 |
Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans
for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)
Notes: Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste |
| Restaurant | 1 | lb/seat/day | Apr. 1992 |
Stevenson Ranch DEIR (Phase IV), LA County
Notes: EIR cites source as Ultrasystems; assumes 50% of restaurant is seating and 16 SF/seat |
| Restaurant | 0.005 | lb/sq ft/day | Dec. 1991 |
Draft EIR for North Hills Development
(Santa Clarita)
Notes: EIR cites City of LA Bureau of Solid Waste, 1989, as source |
| Restaurant (fast food) | 17 | lb/employee /day | May 1997 |
Guide to Solid Waste and Recycling Plans
for Development Projects (Santa Barbara County Public Works Department)
Notes: Cites SWANA Tech. Bull. 85-6; Recovery Sciences, 1987; and Matrix Mgmt Group, "Best Management Practices Analysis for Solid Waste" |
Disclaimer
CalRecycle does not officially endorse any of the waste generation rates in the preceding table, and cannot validate their accuracy. However, they may be useful in providing a general level of information for planning purposes.
The table contains information extracted from various sources, which are cited. Please note that several of the documents listed were developed by city or county planning or environmental departments. Your city or county planning or environmental agency may be a source of information for a local project.
Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact CalRecycle waste characterization staff at wastechar@calrecycle.ca.gov
Solid Waste Characterization: https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/WasteCharacterization/
Contact: wastechar@calrecycle.ca.gov