Methodology
How a verified statement is made
Most recycling reports are one organisation's word about its own work. A Recycled AF Verified Statement is different. It is built from two independent points of evidence with a reconciliation in between — so the number on the page is one that nobody, including us, simply asserted.
Point one
Evidence at the door
When containers are collected, the collection is evidenced where it happens: photographs, a timestamp and a location, tied to that specific booking. The collector can't skip it — our system won't complete a job without its evidence.
Point two
An independent count at the depot
The containers are lodged at an approved container-deposit depot, where they are counted by the depot's own process, by machine or by hand — equipment we don't operate, run by people we don't employ, producing a docket we retain. That count exists because the deposit scheme pays on it, which is exactly what makes it independent of us.
The check
Reconciliation before issue
Our system compares the two points for every collection. Only when they reconcile does a statement issue; when they don't, the collection is held for human review — a statement is never issued through a failed check. We publish the philosophy, not the tolerances: disclosing exact thresholds would teach people how to game them.
Statement classes — named on every statement
Counted — the containers in this statement were independently counted at a depot, by machine or by hand, and that count is the number shown. This is the class we issue for verified collections.
Declared — a count recorded by the collector without independent depot evidence. Shown plainly as such, never dressed as a machine count.
Every statement prints its class. If a statement doesn't say “independent depot count”, it isn't one.
Corrections, disputes and continuity
An issued statement is a snapshot — it can't be silently edited. Corrections issue a new statement that supersedes the old; the old verify link keeps working and says so. Every statement carries an integrity fingerprint of its contents.
If a party to a collection disputes a statement, the evidence bundle behind it is made available to them. The statement is reviewed by a person before any adverse outcome is communicated. Questions and disputes: business@recycled-af.com.
Using statements in your reporting
Statements are prepared to support your own sustainability reporting — NABERS Waste submissions, ESG disclosures, tender responses — subject to your own assessor's or auditor's requirements. We describe precisely what was evidenced and how; how it is used in your reporting remains a matter for you and your assessor.
Hold a statement number? type it after recycled-af.com/statement/ to check it live — every statement's verify link shows its current status.
Every statement is issued under the RAF Verification Standard. Read the Standard.