WHAT A ZWTL ROADMAP REALLY LOOKS LIKE
Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWTL) isn’t a checkbox. It’s a challenge. One that demands more than good intentions, colour-coded bins, or fancy PowerPoint promises.
Done right, ZWTL is a competitive edge – reducing costs, boosting sustainability creds, and future-proofing your operations. But it only works if you build it properly, from the ground up.
Here’s what that actually takes.
1. Out on tender? Ask the right questions
Most ZWTL journeys fail before they even start. Why? Because the procurement brief is broken.
Too many companies choose waste partners based on price, not performance. Don’t fall for big claims with no proof. In your tender process, ask questions that cut through the noise:
- What’s your diversion rate at your top 3 comparable sites?
- Is your data third-party verified?
- What are the real implications of fixed vs variable costs?
- What new ZWTL solutions have you rolled out in the last 6 months?
Push for specifics. If they’re vague, walk away.
2. Out on tender? Ask the right questions
Once you’ve got a credible partner, it’s time to get real about your waste. And that starts with a proper on-site audit.
At WastePlan, our specialists spend a full week doing a waste gap analysis — identifying what’s being generated, where it’s going, and what’s ending up in landfill. No guesswork. No assumptions.
The audit is your baseline. It shows where you’re bleeding, what can be salvaged, and what’s next.
3. Tackle the tough stuff. Separate organic waste
If you do one thing first, do this: separate your organic waste.
Food waste is a ZWTL killer. It’s heavy, wet, and contaminates everything it touches. If you’re not separating at source, you’re sabotaging your diversion rates.
From hotel buffets to office canteens, we build tailored food waste systems backed by staff training and behaviour change. Cleaner inputs = higher recovery.
No composting headaches, either. We’ve even co-developed an indoor food digester that turns waste into grey water — no odours, no hassle. Perfect for hospitality.
4. Make It Easy to Do the Right Thing
ZWTL doesn’t work if your team won’t use the system. You need practical, people-friendly processes that actually fit your site.
That means:
- Site-specific sorting stations
- On-site staff to manage separation
- Tailored solutions for tricky streams
- Rebates that turn recyclables into revenue
And yes — it means training. Because bins don’t change behaviour. People do.
5. If You Can’t Measure It, You Can’t Manage It
You can’t fly blind. Reporting is the control tower of your ZWTL strategy.
You need data that tells the full story:
- Waste volumes per stream
- Diversion performance over time
- Tangible environmental impact (water saved, CO₂ avoided)
- Certificates for hazardous disposal
At WastePlan, clients get live dashboards and verified reporting – not just for bragging rights, but to catch issues early and stay compliant.
6. Hard-to-recycle waste streams? Innovate
Every site has its problem child: sticky labels, rubber, dirty polystyrene, old casino cards. Most providers shrug. We innovate.
We’ve turned:
- Sticky labels into tissues
- Polystyrene into concrete blocks
- Rubber into playgrounds
- IV bags into school shoes
We don’t stop until we find a solution. Because for us, “hard to recycle” doesn’t mean “game over” it means game on.
Ready to Build a ZWTL Roadmap That Works?
We’ve helped clients like Discovery, Sun International, Liberty 2 Degrees, the V&A Waterfront and Stellenbosch University push the limits of sustainability — and meet serious Green Star goals along the way.
Don’t choose a waste partner based on promises. Choose one that’s proven. Because the future doesn’t belong in landfill.
Let’s build something better.
