What is Zero Waste?
Zero Waste is a way to design, create, use, and breakdown products so that no waste ends up being emitted, put in a landfill, or incinerated. Despite similarities, Zero Waste is not just another form of recycling; it involves changes at the production level. Goods should be made with plans for how all components will be treated at the end of that product’s useful life — whether that means the product is disassembled and each component reused, or the product itself could be reused for a different purpose.
While you may be thinking zero waste is unrealistic, setting zero waste as a goal has amazing results. For one thing, the only way we will ever reach zero waste is to set it as a goal. It is easy to measure and tell how we are doing toward reaching that goal. And that goal effects every decision point in a product’s life cycle — what is in it, how is it packaged — and for the consumer, everything about the product you are buying. Asking yourself, “When I am done, is there a way to completely recycle this product or every piece of it?” Thinking this way can have a pronounced effect on the amount of garbage you produce, even if you are not reaching zero waste.
Click here to learn more about Berkshire Zero Waste Initiative
What BEAT is doing to move toward Zero Waste
We have made tremendous progress in reducing the amount of waste we produce at BEAT. We have cut down on the amount of paper generated by being very conscious of everything we print and saving files as PDFs rather than printing them. We can put agendas of upcoming meetings onto our laptops, then take notes at the meeting on the laptop as well. When we do print, we try to always print double-sided. (see BEAT’s Environmental Policy pdf)
Jane Winn is the executive director of BEAT, and in her household, they have also dramatically reduced the amount of waste produced. Most food scraps (other than meat) are composted. Pet waste is flushed. Cloth bags are used for shopping. When buying products, the amount and type of packaging are always considered.
In evaluating our waste production, BEAT realized we did have one place for major improvement — our workshops and conferences. We now bring cups, glasses, plates, cloth napkins, and silverware to our events. And since purchasing our new home, we now have more than enough to go around for all our attendees!
We also help the community recycle items and materials that are typically hard to recycle. At our Environmental Leadership & Education Center, we have multiple TerraCycle boxes where people can drop off empty toothpaste tubes; deodorant, floss, and mouthwash containers; granola bar wrappers; snack bags; and razors. We have another recycling program for razor blades and batteries.
Additionally, we have Helpsy bins at BEAT’s Environmental Leadership & Education Center to help reduce the number of textiles that enter the waste stream! We encourage anyone to drop off their unwanted textiles into our Helpsy bin. The items donated will either be reused, upcycled, or recycled!
WasteLess Restaurants Program
Through Berkshire Zero Waste Initiative (BZWI), BEAT is encouraging less waste in the local food industry with our WasteLess Restaurants program. A WasteLess Restaurant is any Berkshire MA restaurant, café, food truck, or local eatery that takes certain steps to waste less. These steps help small business owners save money, satisfy customers, and help the planet at the same time! Check out BZWI’s page on this program to learn more and find helpful resources!
Helpful Information
Freecycle (Connect with your neighbors to give away and accept items for free)
As You Sow’s Waste Program (Extended Producer Responsibility as the norm – work with Producers)
Asbestos Recycling (Asbestos is still a major health threat – treating its disposal properly can save lives)
Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (Design products with materials that come from and can safely return to nature or industry)
Guide to Selling, Donating, and Recycling Old Clothing
One Less Straw (An effort to stop the use of plastic straws)
Zero Waste International Alliance
Zero Waste – Grassroots Recycling Network
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We want to hear from citizens, businesses, municipal officials, and other stakeholders about your best ideas for accomplishing our goals in both the short and long term. Help us “think outside the box” about questions like:
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- How can we collectively shift from a “waste management” to a “materials management” system?
- How can we work with product manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to prevent waste from being generated in the first place?
- How can we increase the amount of waste that is reused, recycled, and composted?
- How can we encourage recycling markets to grow without depending on government subsidies?
- How can we encourage entrepreneurs to develop new uses for materials that are recovered from waste? What are the best ways to stimulate new markets that recover the maximum value from these materials?
- What materials should we focus on in the short term, and what strategies should be started now for long-term benefits?
- How can we get the most value from materials that cannot be recycled or reused?
- How effective is the waste incinerator moratorium at meeting our goals of increasing recycling, enhancing environmental performance, and spurring new technologies?
- How can we get the best environmental performance from our materials management system at a reasonable cost?
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