What can a waste audit reveal? A lot if you understand how to read your waste audit data and turn the raw numbers into actionable insights.
In this article, we will take a closer look at hard data from a real waste audit. We will break down this waste data, learn what the numbers mean, and how we can use it to develop actionable insights that will move the needle on your waste program.
Understanding Waste Audit Data
At Great Forest, we conduct over 100 waste audits and infrastructure assessments every year for buildings and organizations across the globe. Our experts dig into the details — from all waste streams — to reveal exactly what is being discarded, what is being diverted, and where the greatest opportunities for improvement lie.
In an era of rising waste costs and stricter recycling standards, understanding your waste composition has never been more important. Whether you manage an office building, university, hospital, or retail space, a waste audit gives you the data-driven foundation for smarter waste management and sustainability planning.
There are many different typed of waste audits. from basic to comprehensive. Waste audits can tailored for specific goals, for example for compliance, billing allocation, complex waste streams, ESG and sustainability reporting, and more. Food waste audits can be done to determine the amount of food waste generated that can be donated, and zero waste audits can be performed for TRUE Zero Waste certification and to support LEED certification, and more. Choose the one that’s right for you and reap benefits for each type of waste audit.
This waste data analysis was originally published in Facility Management Journal. Read the report here: Getting to the Bottom of Waste.
Data Analysis: What one Waste Audit Revealed
Take a look at the table above. It is a snapshot summary of a waste audit conducted at a skyscraper housing a mix of offices and retail tenants (all figures are in pounds). What do all the numbers mean? Here’s a quick breakdown.
The building generated 8,515.6 pounds of waste (from all streams).
Only 954.52 pounds of clean recycling was diverted from the landfill. This put the building’s diversion rate at 11.21 percent.
Organics was found in significant quantities across all the waste streams, but the amount present in the building’s retail trash – 2,009.92 pounds of organics – was especially stunning. With an organics program in place, the building’s diversion would be 43 percent instead of 11.21 percent.
The building’s paper recycling was not performing as well as it should be. 180.97 pounds of trash was found in the paper recycling stream.
Furthermore, 155.16 pounds of paper collected was soiled (some of the paper was probably contaminated by the 4.84 pounds of liquid found in this stream.)
More paper (402.61 pounds) was found discarded in deskside trash bins than was collected in the paper recycling stream (246.85 pounds).
The building’s GMP recycling stream was about 70 percent contaminated by :
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- 184.85 pounds of trash
- 21.10 pounds of liquid
- 52.70 pounds of soiled paper
- 21.04 pounds of soiled glass
- 1.08 pounds of soiled metal
- 62.07 pounds of soiled plastic
- 84.17 pounds of organics
- 3.40 pounds of soiled cardboard
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Waste Audit Insights: What the Numbers Mean
The waste audit revealed several key opportunities for improvement.
Launch an organics diversion program: It is clear that the building stands to gain enormous benefit from implementing an organics program. By capturing organic material for composting or other means of diversion, the building could quadruple its diversion rate.
Improve recycling education: The data shows clear confusion among tenants. Contamination in paper and GMP recycling streams suggest the need for better signage and tenant training. The building should plan to offer reminders and additional training to tenants, staff and janitorial crews.
Remove glass from collection programs: Glass is heavy, breaks easily (becoming a safety hazard), and is being accepted less frequently by haulers. Eliminating glass from the recycling stream could reduce contamination and improve safety.
Centralize waste collection: Moving from individual deskside bins to centralized waste stations typically improves recycling accuracy and paper capture. This also allows janitorial staff to spot contamination early.
The findings above demonstrate how much a single waste audit can reveal — and how directly it can influence operational performance.
Turning Waste Audit Insights into Impact
Once you’ve identified the opportunities, the next step is implementation. A waste audit is only as valuable as the changes it inspires.
By acting on audit recommendations — such as implementing a centralized waste collection, an organics diversion program, or introducing clearer signage — businesses can see measurable improvements in waste diversion, operational efficiency and potentially reduce waste hauling costs.
Many Great Forest clients who have implemented waste audit recommendations have seen signification improvements like those shown in these two case studies below:
- A waste audit at a major NYC development uncovered opportunities for reducing waste removal costs by 75 percent, while increasing the building’s diversion ratio by 30 percent. Read the case study.
- A waste audit at a large university uncovered a vast mount of recyclable materials in its trash stream, including a lot of Keurig K-cups. Targeted recommendations resulted in an increase in the campus buildings’ diversion rate, from 43 percent to 76 percent. Read the case study.
A waste audit also helps you benchmark performance over time. By comparing data across quarters or years, you can track progress, verify compliance with local waste laws, and support your company’s waste management and sustainability goals.
What 100+ Waste Audits Worldwide Revealed
Did you know, 62% of trash is NOT trash at all? That is what we found from 100+ waste audits conducted worldwide.
The largest global commercial waste characterization study found that a staggering 62% of material in a building’s trash stream was not trash at all, but was made up of materials that could be diverted. This included:
- 36% organics
- 14% Glass/Metal/Plastic
- 10% Paper
- 1% cardboard
- < 1% electronic waste
This means that most businesses are paying to send more materials to the landfill than they needed to. Are you paying to landfill recyclable materials? What is in your trash? The only way to find out is to conduct a waste audit.
Ready to See What’s Really in Your Waste Streams?
Whether you want to cut waste costs, improve recycling performance or earn a TRUE Zero Waste certification, our team of experts can help you understand your waste — and what to do about it.
Contact Great Forest to schedule your waste audit today and uncover opportunities to save money, reduce waste, and achieve your sustainability goals.
Learn More about Waste Audits
Waste Audit Benefits and Facts: What Every Business Needs To Know
Largest Global Commercial Waste Characterization Study: Insights from 100+ Waste Audits
Waste Audits and Waste Data: Everything A Facility Manager Needs To Know