Zero Waste

What is zero waste?

Zero waste is a sustainability approach that focuses on reducing, reusing, recycling, and recovering materials so that little or no waste is sent to landfills or incinerators. The goal is to design systems and daily habits that prevent waste from being created in the first place, while keeping resources in use for as long as possible.

Uses of zero waste

Zero waste principles are applied across different settings, including:

• Reducing household waste through segregation, reuse, and composting
• Improving waste management practices in offices and commercial spaces
• Minimizing packaging waste in retail and consumer goods
• Recovering materials and by-products in industrial operations
• Supporting community-level waste reduction and recycling programs

Examples of zero waste

Some practical examples of zero waste include:

• Households separating wet and dry waste for effective recycling
• Offices adopting paperless workflows and recycling systems
• Retail stores offering refill options to reduce packaging waste
• Schools encouraging reusable bottles and lunch containers
• Communities running initiatives to divert waste away from landfills