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A U.S.-based manufacturer was committed to reducing the amount of disposable waste it generates. In 2021, they had been able to reach 65% waste diversion but were still well short of the 90% waste diversion rate necessary to achieve their zero-waste goal. There was also an opportunity to take the learnings from this facility and replicate the results across other sites.
ENGIE Impact conducted the first Waste Characterization Baseline Study at the facility in Q2 2022. This included a guided tour during production hours where additional waste generation points and downstream diversion opportunities were identified. The study also included a 24-hour collection of all landfill waste materials. Waste samples were sorted by material type, and the weight and volume of each type were recorded.
The study validated whether processes, bin placement, signage and labeling, and staff engagement aligned with implementation standards — including color coding bins to the corresponding materials, putting signage up that showed the materials that should be going into the bins, and conducting training to review the various new disposal processes.
Opportunities for improvement were identified, including room for improvement when diverting currently recyclable materials like fabric, plastic film, and cardboard — and implementing new recycling services for plastic strapping and comingled materials (e.g. bottles, cans, and paper).
A second Waste Characterization Study was conducted in the second half of 2023, analyzing and validating five months of waste data (Jan 2023 through May 2023) to assess what progress had been made at the site. ENGIE Impact’s validation audit showed:
The company will continue to find improvements where possible and estimates they may achieve 97% diversion in the near future. They also plan on rolling out similar interventions across additional sites.
Let’s work together to optimize waste diversion at your sites.
