Terms of Service

Plain-English Summary: Use the API fairly. Keep your API key secret. Pay your bill. Don't build anything harmful with it. Our data is for planning, not legal filings. We can terminate accounts that abuse the service.

1 Acceptance

By creating an account, obtaining an API key, or making any call to the WasteCalc API (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you are accepting these Terms on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent that you have authority to do so.

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.

2 Service Description

WasteCalc API provides a REST API for estimating construction and demolition waste volumes, recommending dumpster sizes, retrieving tipping fees by ZIP code, and accessing EPA-referenced waste rate data. The Service is provided as-is on a subscription basis as described at wastecalcapi.com/pricing.html.

We may add, modify, or remove API endpoints and features at any time. When we make breaking changes to existing endpoints, we will provide at least 60 days advance notice via email to registered users.

3 Account Registration

To use the Service, you must register for an account with a valid email address. You agree to:

Provide accurate and current information during registration.
Maintain the accuracy of that information over time.
Use one account per person or organization (contact us if you need multiple keys under one account).
Not share your account with others or allow others to access the Service using your credentials.

You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account.

4 API Key Security

Your API key is like a password - treat it with the same care.

Do not embed your API key in public source code repositories, client-side JavaScript, or mobile app binaries where it can be extracted.
Store keys in environment variables or secrets managers (e.g., AWS Secrets Manager, Doppler, HashiCorp Vault).
If your key is compromised or you suspect unauthorized use, rotate it immediately from your account dashboard. We are not liable for charges incurred from a leaked key.
We store only a hashed version of your key. If you lose it, you must generate a new one.

API keys may not be sold, transferred, or sublicensed to third parties.

5 Acceptable Use

You may use the Service for any lawful purpose related to construction waste estimation. The following are prohibited:

Scraping or bulk harvesting - using the API to systematically download our dataset for the purpose of building a competing database or product. Legitimate integrations that call the API in response to real user activity are fine.
Automated hammering - sending requests in patterns that exceed rate limits, using retry loops without backoff, or otherwise degrading service for other users.
Reverse engineering - attempting to reconstruct our underlying data sets, pricing models, or algorithms beyond what is documented in the API response.
Illegal use - using the API to facilitate illegal dumping, fraudulent LEED documentation, or any other unlawful purpose.
Credential sharing - sharing API keys across unrelated organizations or customers without our written permission.

We reserve the right to determine what constitutes a violation of acceptable use at our sole discretion.

6 Rate Limits & Overage

Each plan includes a monthly request quota and a per-minute rate limit as described on the pricing page.

When your monthly quota is reached, additional requests will be rejected with a 429 Too Many Requests response until the next billing cycle begins.
When your per-minute rate limit is exceeded, requests are also rejected with a 429 response and a Retry-After header.
There are no automatic overage charges. We will never bill you beyond your plan price for the same billing period.
You can upgrade your plan at any time to immediately increase your quota.

7 Payment & Cancellation

Billing is processed monthly via Stripe on the anniversary of your subscription start date.

Payment failure - if a payment fails, we will retry for up to 7 days. After that, your account will be paused until payment succeeds. Data is retained for 30 days after pausing before deletion.
Cancellation - you may cancel at any time from your account dashboard. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period. You retain full access until then.
Refunds - we do not offer refunds for partial billing periods. If you cancel mid-month, you keep access through the end of the period you already paid for.
Annual plans - annual subscriptions are non-refundable after the first 14 days from purchase.
Plan changes - upgrades are prorated immediately; downgrades take effect at the next billing cycle.

8 Data Accuracy

Important: WasteCalc API estimates are intended for planning and budgeting purposes only.

Waste estimates, tipping fees, and dumpster size recommendations returned by the API are derived from EPA studies, historical tipping fee schedules, and industry benchmarks. Actual project waste volumes, disposal costs, and requirements will vary based on site-specific conditions, contractor practices, and local regulations that we cannot account for.

Do not use API output as a substitute for:

Official LEED or green building certification documentation - consult a certified LEED professional.
Legal or regulatory compliance filings with EPA or state environmental agencies.
Binding cost estimates or contracts with waste haulers or disposal facilities.

We update our underlying data periodically, but we make no guarantee that tipping fees or EPA data are current as of any specific date. Always verify local fees with the relevant facility before finalizing a bid.

9 Intellectual Property

The WasteCalc API, including our underlying data compilations, algorithms, documentation, and software, is owned by WasteCalc API and protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Service for your own applications during your subscription period. This license does not include the right to resell access to the API, redistribute our data sets, or build a product whose primary purpose is to expose our API data to end users without transformation or value-add.

You retain ownership of any applications, data, or content you create using the Service.

10 Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that any defects will be corrected. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any data returned by the API.

11 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WASTECALC API'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR THE SERVICE - WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE - SHALL NOT EXCEED $100 USD OR THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE 30 DAYS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

IN NO EVENT SHALL WASTECALC API BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS OR LOST DATA, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, so the above may not apply to you in full.

12 Termination

Either party may terminate the agreement at any time.

We may suspend or terminate your account immediately, without prior notice, if:

You violate the Acceptable Use policy (Section 5).
You fail to pay for 7 or more days after a failed payment attempt.
We are required to do so by law or court order.
Continued service presents a risk to other users or our infrastructure.

In non-urgent cases (e.g., policy violations that are not causing active harm), we will attempt to notify you by email and give you 5 business days to resolve the issue before suspension.

Upon termination, your right to access the Service ends immediately. We will retain your data per the retention schedule in our Privacy Policy.

13 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Delaware, and you consent to personal jurisdiction in those courts.

For customers in the European Union or United Kingdom, nothing in these Terms limits your statutory rights under applicable consumer protection law.

14 Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we make material changes, we will:

Email all registered users at least 14 days before the change takes effect.
Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of updated Terms constitutes acceptance of the new Terms. If you disagree with the changes, you may cancel your subscription before the effective date.

15 Contact

Questions about these Terms? We're happy to explain anything in plain language.

WasteCalc API
Email: [email protected]