Why Waste Diversion is Important

As landfills continue to fill up, focusing on waste diversion will no longer be optional. Every single company will need to strive towards zero waste at their facilities or they will be left behind.

“At Cox Enterprises, we believe that professional, third-party validations are vitally important in supporting transparency into an organization’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. We believe that assurances provide credibility and ways to strengthen an organization’s internal processes, methodologies, and reporting.”

— Meredith Lindvall, Senior Director of Sustainability, Recycling, and Waste Diversion

Why Certify Waste Diversion Claims

Demonstrates Brand Integrity

GreenCircle’s certificate will indicate the facility boundary because this is the most accurate way to reflect the sustainability of a facility and assure accountability.

Handshake

Builds Consumer Trust

Companies who take the extra step to obtain GreenCircle certification are not only ensuring that their claim is valid, they are also setting the standard for transparency in their industry.

Meets Sustainable Purchasing Requirments

Many entities require third-party certifications to verify that claims are accurate. GreenCircle certification can ensure that you meet these sustainable purchasing requirements.

Establishes Competitive Advantage

GreenCircle certification provides tangible proof to consumers and gives companies an edge over competitors who have unsubstantiated claims.

Drives Continuous Improvement

Your initial GreenCircle Waste Diversion certification serves as a baseline for driving continuous improvement towards your goals.

GreenCircle Waste Diversion Certifications

Waste Diversion from Landfill

Demonstrates your commitment to the responsible management of end-of-life materials. GreenCircle will validate a percentage of waste a company or manufacturing facility diverts from landfill.

Zero Waste to Landfill

Zero Waste to Landfill means that your company or manufacturing facility has diverted 100% of your waste from going to landfill. Our team audits your company’s waste and your material management organizations to verify this claim.

GreenCircle Waste System Audit

Demonstrates company-wide commitment to the responsible management of end-of-life materials. GreenCircle will validate adherence to company policies for proper waste management across the company; as well as verify a percentage of waste from selected locations.

Waste System Audit

Data Requirements

An overview of operations for the facility including a list of manufacturing processes (if applicable) and the types of products being produced or operations being conducted at the facility.

Data and documentation from the material management organizations that displays how they are handling materials.

Any documented and measured waste minimization/source reduction practices implemented within the facility.

A list of the waste materials and weights generated from the previous 12 months at the facility .

The company must also provide GreenCircle access for a site visit of the facility.

*GreenCircle will determine if this requirement will be met through an on-site visit or a virtual visit for visual verification of the manufacturing process and waste streams.

Samples of purchasing slips, load tickets, and/or waste bills verifying the transactions between the company and the materials management organizations

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Zero Waste to Landfill Event Certification process begins with a focused audit that examines the specific boundaries of the event. GreenCircle will collaborate with the client before the event to outline the necessary data requirements, ensuring that detailed tracking is in place for an effective single event audit.

    During the event, GreenCircle will be onsite to conduct the audit, monitor waste management practices, and collect data to assess the event's waste diversion efforts. This comprehensive approach helps ensure that the event aligns with zero waste principles, ultimately promoting sustainability and minimizing environmental impact.

  • GreenCircle recognizes that certain materials are required by local, state, or federal regulations to be sent to landfills. To ensure compliance, GreenCircle will carefully review these regulations, and any materials mandated for landfill disposal will not be included in the company’s total diversion percentage. For further information, please refer to the Audit Plan, and feel free to engage with GreenCircle for any clarifications during the audit process.

  • By obtaining a GreenCircle Waste Diversion Certification, clients can establish a strong baseline for continuous improvement in their sustainability practices, reinforcing their commitment to the circular economy. This certification not only enhances marketing efforts by showcasing a dedication to sustainability, but it also raises customer awareness and loyalty. Clients can showcase their certification in their sustainability reports helping them communicate effectively and transparently with stakeholders. Additionally, the certification acts as a powerful tool for engaging employees, fostering a culture of accountability and driving continuous improvement and goal setting throughout the organization.

Additional Resources

The Path to Waste Diversion and Zero Waste to Landfill Certification

Tackling Difficult-to-Manage Waste Streams with Hannah Julian from g2 Revolution

A Roadmap to Reducing Waste with Denise Coogan from Subaru

Operation Zero Waste: How to Achieve Zero Waste to Landfill

Know Your Impact, Show Your Impact

Bring visibility and credibility to your sustainability efforts with robust third-party certification.