What is Zero Waste

Zero waste is the practiced philosophy of designing the lifecycle of resources so that everything is reused. This swaps out the old model of cradle to grave for a cradle to cradle approach.

The definition adopted by the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA) is: Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use.

Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them.

Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health