Humans created the concept of waste. Natural systems have never produced waste, but instead have systematically moved resources in cycles. Zero Waste is about smart design upstream and creating cycles downstream to move materials through our society in loops instead of straight to landfills or incinerators.

Moving Toward Waste Solutions:

Nova Scotia reached a 50% diversion goal in 2000, within five years of setting it, by adopting a zero waste ideology, an ideology based on creating these closed loops. Setting a goal of zero moves us away from waste management and toward resource recovery as waste managers identify the valuable materials discarded each day and remove them from the waste stream. Zero waste models create jobs, save natural resources, and conserve energy. Zero waste, similar to industry-set standards of zero accidents or zero defects, is a goal and a process.

New England can join Nova Scotia and other regions worldwide in our work toward the goal of zero, greatly extending the nearly two decades of landfill capacity we currently have in the state. In fact, the Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District (CVSWMD) has already taken the lead by setting a zero waste goal. CVSWMD is currently working to eliminate organics from their waste stream through new programs and infrastructure. Based on their current plans, they estimate reaching a 50-60% diversion rate in five years. Ultimately, the states' solid waste districts will need to work together to assemble the critical masses of different components of the waste stream to make the zero waste model economically feasible. For a zero waste model to be most effective, all of New England would need to adopt the singular long-term vision of zero, just as British Columbia and Nova Scotia, Canada; West Australia and Canberra Provinces, Australia; and the country of New Zealand have.

In the press (All Word Documents):

Fortune Magazine
Toxics Action Center Vermont Zero Waste campaign
Zero Waste comes to Western Massachusetts
Landfill plans challenged by zero waste model

Looking for more information on Zero-Waste ? Try these links:

Moving Toward Zero Waste
We're Working Toward Zero Waste! (PDF)
Beyond Recycling: Zero Waste; or darn close (PDF)
Local Government Zero Waste Toolkit (PDF)
The End of Waste (PDF)
Road to Zero Waste (PDF)

For more information:

Grassroots Recycling Network
Zero Waste International Alliance
Zero Waste America
Ecocycle