Client

Consumer-facing company with ambitious sustainability and Zero Waste goals

Summary

Did you know… you can increase your waste diversion rate by 15 to 35 percent just through waste sorting? Great Forest’s deep experience in waste sorting program development was instrumental in helping this company significantly improve its waste diversion in just one month, and move towards TRUE Zero Waste certification. Composting quickly increased by 142 percent, and the landfill waste stream decreased by 43 percent.

Challenge

The client was interested in TRUE Zero Waste certification and needed to achieve a waste diversion rate of 90% or above for all waste streams, but their overall diversion rate was just 60 percent. To meet this goal, the company turned to Great Forest for a quick solution. 

A comprehensive waste stream audit revealed that the contamination rate in the trash stream was 79 percent, and 50 percent in the recycling stream. Great Forest experts determined that sorting would make the most immediate impact. 

Solution

Great Forest took the following steps to implement an effective waste sorting program to meet the client’s needs.

Evaluate: 

• A review of the waste data and interviews with stakeholders were conducted to understand site operations.

Develop and Integrate:

• Great Forest designed a waste sorting program that met the specific needs of the client, taking into account staffing needs, space and cost considerations.
• An optimal site for the sorting program was identified, and work was done to ensure that the waste sorting program integrated seamlessly into the current waste management program.

Educate and Train

• Great Forest conducted a presentation to stakeholders explaining the rationale for sorting, demonstrating examples of sorting operations and equipment, and providing a sorting preparedness checklist that outlined what was needed for success.
• Sorters were selected and trained. This included two in-depth classroom training presentations for sorters and key culinary staff.
• Recommendations were provided for appropriate PPE and equipment.
• Practice sorting sessions were conducted, with feedback provided to both the sorters and management.
• Custom signage, based on materials to be sorted, was created as a reference for the sorters.

Track and Adjust

• For two months after the installation of the sorting program, Great Forest met weekly with the onsite team to suggest further fine-tuning and to make any needed equipment adjustments.

Results 

In the first month after the deployment of the sorting program, the client increased its compost generation by 142 percent and reduced the landfill waste stream by 43 percent!  The sorting team also recovered $750 of reusable items over the first three months.

We expect these results to continue to improve and for the client to pursue TRUE Zero Waste certification.