process of zero waste system
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Waste Management
JANUARY 9, 2018
Phoenix Open Recycling101 Sustainability Zero Waste What is Zero Waste?
Most people probably don’t think too much about the trash they throw away. After all, we’re all so busy with work and family and scrolling through Facebook that it’s easy to overlook the food and packaging and water bottles we go through on any given day.
But while most may not think too much about waste, there are some of us who think about it a lot…a whole lot. In fact, there are companies and organizations that have made it their business to figure out how to generate less, how to dispose of less, and how to define when we achieve some variation of a “Zero Waste” goal.
And while zero waste may sound pretty straightforward, it can actually be more complex than you might think.
What is Zero Waste?
Generally, “Zero Waste” is a philosophy of eliminating the generation of materials that have no viable or economic option for end-of-use management. In reality, there are varying interpretations for when (and if) it is achieved. Does zero waste really mean zero waste? Does it consider the waste that’s produced in the production of materials upstream? Is a small amount of waste acceptable at the end of a material’s end of life? What about Waste-to-Energy? The definition of zero waste varies widely, with various organizations defining zero waste differently, each with their own interpretation as to what it takes to get to “zero.”
The generation of waste can be lowered through a variety of options, including reducing, reusing, recycling, or taking appropriate action to prevent waste through design and engineering solutions. Many individuals, companies and municipalities continue to strive to achieve zero waste goals, while our very own Waste Management Phoenix Open is the largest zero waste event of its kind in the world.