Case Study: Tenant-focused Waste Management Program

Great partnered with a major property management company to implement an intensive, tenant-focused waste management program across several commercial buildings in their portfolio. This targeted approach proved highly effective in driving behavioral change and compliance at the tenant/occupant level. Diversion rates improved by an average of nearly 60%.

Client

A leading commercial property management company managing a portfolio of properties.

Challenge

The client recognized that while building-wide services provided a strong foundation, tenants were the ones generating the waste, and meaningful diversion gains would only come from engaging them directly. As owners and managers of multi-tenant commercial properties, they wanted to equip tenants with the tools, education, and support needed to improve outcomes at the source. Meeting their sustainability objectives required a specialized approach that went beyond base building services to address tenant-specific waste streams and behaviors.

Great Forest Solution

We implemented an intensive tenant-focused program, partnering with five dedicated tenants across three buildings for a full-year commitment. Tenants were selected based on their size, commitment to zero waste goals and operational efficiency, and willingness to devote time and resources to reducing waste.

Our program focused on a data-driven waste strategy and engagement:

• Data Collection and Analysis

Great Forest conducted comprehensive waste audits for the buildings at the start and end of the program, along with quarterly audits for each tenant. This was coupled with tenant-specific waste infrastructure scorecards, delivered twice a year, to identify opportunities to optimize waste collection infrastructure for regulatory compliance.

• Program Development

Waste audit and waste infrastructure scorecard findings were reviewed, analyzed and used to recommend waste program adjustments, inform educational materials and drive implementation. This included creating custom tools like signage templates, annotated floor plans for optimized bin placement, and introducing new programs for organics recycling and specialty diversion based on tenant needs.

• Engagement and Support

Great Forest increased stakeholder participation with quarterly one-hour educational presentations (including lunch and learns, townhalls and webinars) and, as needed, monthly meetings with appropriate tenant stakeholders to review findings, answer questions and drive change. Other outreach efforts included an annually updated tenant handbook on waste management program success.

Results

This targeted tenant-focused approach achieved significant improvements in waste diversion rates, and improved overall building performance across the portfolio.

For participating tenants, diversion rates improved by an average of nearly 60%, demonstrating the impact of tenant-level engagement.

These results confirm that targeting key tenants with intensive, data-backed tools and strategies is one of the most effective way to accelerate sustainability goals across portfolios.

Contact us today to discuss how a tenant-focused program can achieve similar successful results for your commercial properties.

 

Photo: sarah b, unsplash

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