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What We Throw Out Says Who We Are
Brian Bollinger
June 30, 2025
In 2025, waste isn’t just a facilities issue—it’s a leadership one.
With state and local ordinances like NYC’s compost law now in effect and contamination fees on the rise, building operators are stuck between pressure to perform and systems that weren’t designed for performance.
This week, we’re cracking open the trash bag. We’ll walk you through a real-world waste audit from the Big Apple, reveal what TRUE Zero Waste actually demands, and show how Waste2Zero is making compliance, clarity, and certification actually doable.
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FIELD NOTES
💡 Green Signal: TRUE Zero Waste Explained
What it takes to earn TRUE certification
TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) requires 90%+ diversion, staff education, stream-specific data, and a living waste strategy. And yes—it’s earned, not claimed.
🏙️ Rockefeller Center Waste Audit: What We Found
During a Waste2Zero audit, staff areas reached a 65% diversion rate. Visitors? Just 28%. Compostable items were mis-sorted into landfill streams nearly 100 pounds a day.
Major players like WM and Casella are profiting from “contamination fees.” Poor sorting is no longer just an ESG problem—it’s a line item.
Both rating systems now require higher accuracy, stream-level tracking, and intensity-based metrics. Without audits, your scores (and story) will fall short.
BUILT TO LAST
What a Waste Audit Really Tells You
You don’t know what you don’t measure.
And most teams are missing the mark by a mile.
Case in Point: Rockefeller Center
We audited both public-facing and staff waste streams across the campus. Even with decent infrastructure, visitor diversion lagged.
Clear patterns emerged:
Compostable food packaging and utensils were nearly always tossed in landfill bins.
Signage was mismatched or out of date.
Desk bins encouraged bad habits.
But here’s the kicker: after a one-day staff walkthrough and signage update, the contamination rate dropped nearly 15% overnight.
The TRUE Framework Isn’t Theory—It’s a Playbook
TRUE Zero Waste certification is tough—but it’s also a roadmap:
Track diversion by stream
Audit at least annually
Train staff and vendors
Redesign bins for real behavior
Tie to ESG goals, not just ops
Whether you’re aiming for LEED v5, ESG reports, or just getting your hauler off your back, a real waste audit is where it starts.
Enter Waste2Zero
Waste2Zero partners with organizations that want to stop guessing and start improving. We provide:
Hands-on waste audits that work in commercial, higher ed, and venue spaces
Stream-specific data that fits GRESB and LEED v5
Real-world signage and vendor strategies
Integration-ready dashboards
As we like to say: We don’t just help you track waste—we help you use it to win certifications, cut costs, and tell your sustainability story.
TL;DR:
Your bin labels and audit data matter more than ever. Waste isn’t just compliance—it’s credibility.
Action Step: Remove one desk bin. Install a compost bin in your breakroom. Then book a pilot audit.
💬 Quote of the Week:
The best waste programs aren’t just compliant—they’re consistent, visible, and part of a larger sustainability story.
RETROFIT THIS
This is why your MEP engineer starts twitching every time someone says “energy model lite.”
Yes, we’re collecting your best green building memes—hit “reply” and send us yours.
TOOLS DOWN
Your waste program already tells a story.
The question is:
Are you the author—or just reacting to someone else's script?
✍️ Brian Bollinger, Waste2Zero co-founder, has helped teams from Rockefeller Center to major university campuses turn messy waste streams into clean performance data.
🌍 Charlie Cichetti, our Fearless Leader and LEED Fellow, has helped >150,000 professionals advance their green building careers and knows how to turn complexity into progress.
Let’s Green Up together.
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