About

Waste management professionals and construction site managers operate in two different units: disposal fees are paid by weight (tons), but logistics and container rentals are handled by volume (cubic meters or yards). Misjudging volume leads to overflowing dumpsters or paying for air in half-empty containers.

This tool converts mass to volume based on material density and compaction state. Compaction is the critical variable; a "Loose" load of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) occupies significantly more space than a "Compacted" load in a rear-loader truck. This calculator provides range estimations to assist in selecting the correct skip bin size.

Formulas

The volume is derived by dividing mass by density. The density variable (ρ) changes based on the material and its compaction state.

V = Massρ

To account for moisture variability, the tool assumes average moisture content. High moisture (rain-soaked debris) increases density, thereby reducing volume per ton.

Reference Data

Waste Type	Condition	Density (kg/m³)	m³ per Ton
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)	Loose	130	7.69
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)	Compacted	400	2.50
Construction Debris (Mixed)	Loose	1250	0.80
Green Waste / Yard Trimmings	Loose	250	4.00
Concrete (Broken)	Pile	1500	0.67
Scrap Metal (Mixed)	Loose	450	2.22
Paper / Cardboard	Loose	70	14.28
Glass (Crushed)	Compact	1300	0.77

Frequently Asked Questions

Waste is heterogeneous. A ton of bricks and a ton of plastic bottles have vastly different volumes. Additionally, "void space" (air pockets) in a dumpster depends on how the waste is loaded. Always add a 10-20% safety margin.

Loose density refers to waste thrown freely into a container. Compacted density refers to waste processed by a hydraulic press (like a garbage truck or compactor), which can reduce volume by ratio of 3:1 or 4:1.

Yes. Porous materials like wood, drywall, and green waste absorb water. A "ton" of wet waste contains less actual material volume than a ton of dry waste because the water weight skews the calculation.