> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.nectarclimate.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Waste tracking

> Set up, monitor, and analyze waste data — from hauler invoices to diversion rate.

<Tip>
  Looking for the dashboard reference instead? See [Waste analytics](/platform/analytics/waste). For common questions, jump to the [FAQ](#frequently-asked-questions) below.
</Tip>

Waste is a first-class commodity in Nectar, tracked alongside electricity, gas, and water. Because every organization tracks waste differently — different haulers, materials, containers, and reporting categories — waste needs a little setup before your data flows cleanly. This page explains how waste data is structured, what to configure during onboarding, how to keep it healthy over time, and what you can analyze.

## How Nectar structures waste data

Unlike electricity or gas, waste is a [spot-delivery](/platform/data-quality/completeness) commodity: it is hauled away on specific pickup dates rather than metered continuously. Each pickup or disposal record is captured and separated along several independent dimensions so you can slice your data later:

| Dimension                                           | What it means                                      | Example                                |
| --------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| **[Waste type](/platform/glossary#waste-type)**     | The material being disposed of                     | Cardboard, organics, mixed solid waste |
| **[Waste stream](/platform/glossary#waste-stream)** | How that material is processed or where it ends up | Landfill, recycled, composted, donated |
| **Site**                                            | The facility the waste came from                   | Distribution center #4                 |
| **Hauler**                                          | The waste provider on the bill                     | Republic Services, Waste Management    |
| **Container**                                       | The dumpster or bin, with its size and units       | 6 cubic yard dumpster                  |

Each waste type carries a **density** value, which lets Nectar convert volume-based pickups (for example, cubic yards) into a common mass unit (pounds or tons) so mixed-unit data is comparable across haulers and sites.

A **[mapping rule](/platform/glossary#waste-mapping-rule)** connects a waste type to a waste stream. Mapping rules can be scoped three ways, and the most specific match wins:

* **Company-wide** — applies everywhere (for example, "Cardboard → Recycled").
* **Per hauler** — applies only to records from one waste provider.
* **Per site** — applies only to one facility, so the same material can route to a different stream where local processing differs.

This is what powers your **diversion rate** and lets the same material follow different paths depending on where it was generated.

## Setting up waste tracking

<Steps>
  <Step title="Make sure your sites exist">
    Create your [sites](/platform/sites/overview) first so each waste account maps to the right facility. Including the service address on uploads or in the connection helps Nectar match records to the correct site.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure your waste types and streams">
    In [**Settings > Company > Waste**](https://dash.nectarclimate.com/settings/company/waste), review the waste types and streams. Nectar starts you with a default set — most organizations only track a handful of materials, so trim the list to the types you actually report on and add any that are missing. Define the streams that match your reporting framework (for example, landfill, recycling, composting, donation/reuse).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Map types to streams">
    Add mapping rules so every waste type resolves to a stream. Start with company-wide rules, then add per-hauler or per-site overrides only where processing differs. The coverage summary on the waste settings page flags any unmapped types or untyped containers so you know what is left.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Get your waste data into Nectar">
    Add a waste [connection](/platform/data-input/connections) using a hauler portal login where one is available, or upload invoices, manifests, and spreadsheets directly under [Uploads](/platform/data-input/uploads). You do not need an online hauler account — PDFs and spreadsheets work fine. Nectar pulls as much history as the source provides (typically 12–24 months).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Optional: add container details per hauler">
    When a hauler bills by container service rather than weight, add the container **name, size, and units** to that connection (see [Custom container](/platform/data-input/connections#custom-container)). This is per-hauler context you layer on after the data is in — Nectar uses it to estimate quantity, for example a 4 cubic yard dumpster picked up 4 times in a month is 16 cubic yards. Track containers of different sizes separately; do not combine them.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Ongoing monitoring

Once waste is set up, a few surfaces help you keep the data trustworthy as new bills arrive:

* **Coverage summary** — The waste settings page shows unmapped waste types and untyped containers at a glance, with quick actions to fix each.
* **Unmapped indicators** — Records without a waste type appear as **Unknown**, and types without a stream appear as **Unmapped**. Both are excluded from waste analytics until resolved, so clearing them keeps your numbers complete.
* **[Completeness](/platform/data-quality/completeness)** — Because waste is spot-delivery, a month counts as complete as long as at least one pickup exists; a month with zero pickups is flagged as missing. This avoids false gaps for sites that are serviced once a month.
* **[Data quality issues](/platform/data-quality/issues)** — New waste bills are checked automatically, and anything ambiguous is surfaced for review rather than silently misclassified.

As Nectar processes new bills, it classifies materials automatically and learns from any corrections you make, so classification improves over time.

## Trends and analytics

Open [**Analytics > Waste**](https://dash.nectarclimate.com/analytics/waste) to explore your data. The [Waste analytics](/platform/analytics/waste) page gives you:

* Three views — **Total**, **By waste stream**, and **By waste type**.
* A composition breakdown (share of the mix) and a trend chart over time.
* Headline metrics: **total waste**, **diversion rate**, and **bill count**.
* Filtering by date range and site.

Because every record is separated by type, stream, site, hauler, and container, you can answer questions like "what is our landfill diversion rate by site this year?" or "how has our recycling tonnage trended since we switched haulers?" — and the classification stays consistent as you add facilities.

## Frequently asked questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Where do I manage waste types, streams, and mapping rules?">
    All waste configuration lives under **Settings > Company > Waste**. From there you can add, edit, and remove waste types and streams, and create mapping rules scoped company-wide, per hauler, or per site.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Nectar started me with waste types I don't use — can I remove them?">
    Yes. Most organizations only track a few materials. On the waste settings page, delete the default types you don't report on and add any that are missing, then map the ones you keep to the right streams.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I change the waste type on a specific meter?">
    Open the meter, expand the waste details in the edit form, and choose a more specific waste type. If no existing type matches, create a new one under **Settings > Company > Waste** first, then assign it. The waste stream is derived automatically from your mapping rules.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="My waste shows as 'Unmapped' or 'Unknown' in analytics — why?">
    A record shows as **Unknown** when it has no waste type, and **Unmapped** when it has a type but no stream. Both are left out of waste analytics until resolved. Use the coverage summary on the waste settings page to assign the missing type or add a mapping rule.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How does Nectar calculate quantity when a bill only shows pickups?">
    Many haulers bill by container service rather than weight. When you enter container details (name, size, and units) on the connection, Nectar multiplies the container size by the number of pickups to estimate the quantity, then uses the waste type's density to express it in a common mass unit.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need a hauler login, or can I just upload bills?">
    Either works. Use a hauler portal login for automatic ongoing collection where one is available, or upload invoices, manifests, and spreadsheets directly. Many waste providers do not offer portals, so direct uploads are common and fully supported.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How is the diversion rate calculated, and can I report hazardous vs non-hazardous?">
    The **diversion rate** is the share of waste kept out of landfill — recycling, composting, donation, and reuse divided by total waste. Because you define your own streams and mapping rules, you can model them to match the categories your reporting framework expects, including separating diverted vs disposed and hazardous vs non-hazardous materials.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why does a waste account show complete with only one pickup in a month?">
    Waste is a spot-delivery commodity, so Nectar marks a month complete when at least one pickup exists. See [Data completeness](/platform/data-quality/completeness) for how this differs from continuously metered commodities like electricity.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

**See also:** [Waste analytics](/platform/analytics/waste), [Connections](/platform/data-input/connections), [Data completeness](/platform/data-quality/completeness), [Glossary — Waste](/platform/glossary#waste), [Glossary — Waste diversion](/platform/glossary#waste-diversion)