NSF Landfill-Free Verification and Waste Diversion Leader Verification

Waste generation around the world is increasing. Population growth and rising consumer demand are putting strain on the planet’s resources and on its waste management.

"Reducing landfill waste is essential for protecting the environment, as it helps lower greenhouse gas emissions, conserves natural resources, and reduces the risk of soil and water contamination."⁴

Let’s look at some figures:

• Electronic waste (e-waste) generation forecast to exceed 80 million metric tons by 2030.¹
• Plastic waste forecast to surpass 615 million metric tons by 2040.²
• “Nearly a fifth of all food produced each year is squandered or lost before it can be consumed”.³

While boosting recycling helps, it’s not enough to solve the problem. The scale of the issue – and the routes to resolving it – is much greater and requires a holistic approach to waste management.

The ultimate goal is zero landfill and achieving that means taking a close look at sustainable waste management practices. That includes finding ways to increase circularity, identifying reuse strategies, developing an effective waste management process, and reducing the volume of materials being disposed of in the first place.

It might seem like a daunting task – and there is no doubt that it will be more challenging for some businesses than others. That’s why we offer two verification routes to help organizations prove their commitment to managing waste responsibly:

• Landfill-free verification – Highest performing facilities sending less than 1% of your waste to landfill.
• Waste diversion leader verification – Committed to reducing landfill waste and driving ongoing progress.

Making environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments a core business strategy can reap dividends. For example, independent verification of your waste recycling, waste reduction and minimizing waste to landfill efforts provides confirmation to stakeholders that you are acting ethically and consciously, minimizing environmental impact and avoiding unnecessary contributions to landfill.

As well as demonstrating your leadership, having your claims independently verified helps to build trust internally and externally, and can open new business opportunities.

Sources

¹ Global e-waste generation outlook 2030 | Statista

² https://www.statista.com/statistics/1559351/projected-plastic-waste-generation/

³ https://www.wfp.org/stories/5-facts-about-food-waste-and-hunger