The Concept

Zero Waste is a powerful concept that challenges old ways of thinking and inspires new attitudes and behaviour. It is a multifaceted approach to conserving the Earth's limited resources.

Zero Waste encompasses:

• Cleaner production (using less resources, creating less pollution)
• Product redesign so that products can be taken apart, and instead of being disposed of, the parts reused, recycled or composted
• Promoting reusable and recycled products
• Recycling or resource recovery
• Composting
• Implementing legislation including levies (taxes) that lead to producers and consumers paying the true cost of resource consumption
• Helping communities achieve a local economy that operates efficiently, sustains good jobs and promotes self-reliance
• Employment creation
• Reducing spending on resources and waste management

We will have embarked on what has been termed a 'materials revolution' – the redesign of products, manufacturing processes, reuse and recovery of resources.

"For those at the bottom of the Zero Waste mountain it is hard to believe it can be climbed. There is no single model, no one set way. But a broad pattern is emerging which makes it easier for those still looking up from below." (Zero Waste, Robin Murray)