Theory 204/Waste collection/Ratio lens
Cost Is Logistics Against Volume
The claim
Collection cost per tonne is set by the ratio of route distance to volume collected, so sparse areas cost more per tonne at the same service level.
01Mechanism
Fuel and labour scale with distance while revenue scales with mass; the ratio sets unit cost.
02Prediction
Unit cost should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Unit cost tracking volume would remove distance.