Zero Waste for Businesses

Where: Two locations in St. John’s, NL

Date: May, June 2020

Project leader: Planeet Consulting

Project participants: The Battery Café and Guide to the Good

Project sponsors: The Battery Café and Guide to the Good

Key Features: 

• Tracked the volume of waste generated in their facilities in a specific period, destined for composting, recycling, and landfill. 
• Reviewed their environmental policies.

Deliverables: 

• Results of the zero-waste audit, including discards composition and metrics (diversion, capture, and contamination rates).
• Recommendations on waste reduction following the zero waste principle of high and best use:
  • prioritizing reusables over single-use items,
  • improving signage to increase capture and reduce contamination,
  • buying in bulk to reduce packaging,
  • implementing composting*
  • requesting feedback from waste collectors on contamination*
  • appointing a zero-waste champion*.
    • *Recommendations specifically for The Battery Café.

What we learned:

• No business can reduce waste on its own. It requires the engagement of staff and those in the supply chain.
• Reducing waste and building a zero-waste culture is an ongoing process that requires the involvement of various stakeholders (e.g. staff, service providers, and patrons).
• Reducing waste also requires a systematic approach. The Zero Waste Certification is a way to help organizations set specific goals, track their progress, and become recognized for their waste-reduction achievements.

Who to contact for more information: 

Viviana at viviana@planeet.consulting

Where to learn more:

• Sustainability at The Battery Café.
• Planeet’s Zero Waste Audits.