The back-to-school season isn’t just a rush for fresh supplies—it’s a signal that businesses must rethink how they handle resource use, efficiency, and sustainability. As students and families gear up for a new academic year, companies across retail, automotive, and food sectors are confronted with overwhelming streams of packaging, product, and material discards. Now more than ever, the smartest organizations understand this challenge isn’t about quick fixes or single initiatives. It’s about looking at the entire system and making it work better, smarter, and more sustainably.

Doing more with less requires a practical approach: data-driven oversight, integrated solutions, and a partner that can see your operations holistically—not just clean up individual messes. Here’s how the most forward-thinking businesses are shifting from piecemeal efforts to strategic, system-based solutions that deliver lasting results.

The Retail Industry: Tackling Complexity with Clarity

Retailers know the pressures of back-to-school all too well. Recent figures from the National Retail Federation reveal spending for back-to-school and back-to-college in 2025 is expected to reach a record $145 billion. While innovative initiatives—like take-back programs and recycled content products—show real progress, true impact comes from looking at the entire chain, from inbound packaging to reverse logistics.

E-commerce has increased packaging waste exponentially, with over 190 billion packages shipped annually in the U.S. Tackling this isn’t just about using recyclable materials; it means redesigning packaging systems, tracking streams across the business, and actively using data to adjust in real time. The retailers finding meaningful, lasting reductions are those working with partners who provide end-to-end visibility, actionable data, and seamless program management across locations and departments.

Automotive Industry: Moving from Compliance to Optimization

Back-to-school momentum extends into the automotive sector as vehicles flood service bays and showrooms. The industry is making impressive progress—swapping out single-use packaging for reusable containers, recycling parts, and pushing for greener processes. But here’s the hard truth: compliance alone isn’t a strategy, and simple substitutions don’t solve the underlying issues if each part of the operation runs in a silo.

According to the EPA, tens of millions of tires and gallons of used oil still end up improperly stored or disposed of. Managing these streams is more effective when you treat the operation as an interconnected system, not a checklist. By integrating compliance, tracking, reporting, and training under one unified platform, organizations can see inefficiencies before they become problems—and adapt as regulations and materials change.

The most successful auto businesses partner with providers who make sense of this complexity, leveraging real-time analytics and tailored process improvements to drive both environmental and financial outcomes.

Food Industry: Connecting the Dots for Maximum Impact

Food businesses, from cafeterias to catering companies, know the pain points of excessive food and packaging waste—especially in high-traffic seasons. Industry research now indicates about 35% of all food in the U.S. is wasted annually, a figure that not only hurts the environment but drives up costs across the entire supply chain.

Leading companies have rolled out food donation programs, switched to compostables, and invested in smarter purchasing software. Yet, isolated programs too often stall or fail amid changing volumes and complex logistics. That’s why the real game-changer is taking a bigger view: unifying waste diversion, procurement, and inventory tracking within a connected system that responds dynamically to data.

The businesses making measurable gains partner with specialists who consolidate data from multiple touchpoints, identify actionable cost savings, and tie sustainability targets directly into operational workflows.

Why Systems—and the Right Partners—Matter

The rapid innovations happening in every industry are cause for optimism. From recycled product lines to circular models and supply chain transparency, it’s clear businesses are invested in real change. But the difference between isolated improvements and transformative results is a system approach—treating your resources, processes, and data as interrelated parts of a larger whole.

Working with a provider who brings holistic insight and practical, data-backed solutions isn’t just preferable—it’s essential. The right partner will help you streamline operations, monitor and optimize every resource stream, and tie sustainability directly to your business outcomes. They’ll analyze data across your locations, technologies, and teams, uncovering trends and delivering tailored recommendations that lead to less waste, lower costs, and better compliance—all without the guesswork or the burnout of managing piecemeal programs.

As the back-to-school rush approaches, it’s not just about keeping pace. It’s about future-proofing your operations. Rather than relying on short-term fixes or the latest single-initiative trend, the businesses that thrive will be those that commit to an integrated, system-wide approach—maximizing both their impact and their efficiency.

And when the season is over, those improvements will continue to pay dividends, positioning your business as a sustainability leader for years to come.

Partnering with experienced experts empowers businesses to take meaningful action—transforming resource challenges into measurable, sustainable gains. The next step isn’t another quick fix; it’s a smarter, system-wide solution.

This revised glossary reflects updated terminology, highlights emerging trends and ensures you’re equipped to tackle today’s sustainability challenges. Get ready to stir up some alphabet soup with these essential waste and recycling terms.

Note: This glossary is for educational and informational purposes, not legal advice.

Types of Waste

Not all trash is created equal. Waste is made up of a variety of materials, each requiring different strategies for management and recovery. Here’s an updated breakdown:

• Construction and Demolition (C&D) Materials – Instead of calling it “waste,” the term “materials” is increasingly used to highlight a focus on recovery. This includes lumber, drywall, concrete, and other materials generated from construction and demolition activities. Update: Many municipalities now prioritize deconstruction practices to salvage materials for reuse or recycling.
• E-Waste (Electronic Waste) – The fast turnover of electronics has led to growing piles of discarded gadgets like smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Advances in e-waste recycling now emphasize recovering precious metals and rare earth elements.
• Pre-Consumer Waste – Material recycled during the manufacturing process, before it reaches consumers. For instance, fabric offcuts from clothing production.
• Post-Consumer Waste – Refers to items discarded by consumers (think used packaging or old newspapers). Update: The focus on extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs is reshaping how we handle post-consumer waste.
• Biodegradable Waste – Materials that decompose naturally within a short time span, such as food scraps, paper, and untreated wood. New Note: This term is gaining traction over “organic waste,” making its usage more intuitive for consumers.
• Hazardous Waste – Materials that pose risks to health or the environment due to being toxic, corrosive, reactive, or ignitable. Example Update: Lithium-ion batteries, crucial for electronics and EVs, are a growing hazardous waste category, necessitating special handling.
• Plastic Waste – With the global spotlight on plastic pollution, terms like “microplastics” and “single-use plastics” are becoming central to conversations around plastic waste.
• Green Waste – Garden and landscaping debris such as grass clippings, leaves, and tree trimmings. It plays a big role in composting operations.
• Residual Waste – A term growing in use to describe non-recyclable and non-compostable materials left behind after sorting processes.

Management Systems and Processes

Once waste leaves your hands, it enters a complex system designed to sort, process, and (ideally) reuse as much as possible. Here’s what’s new in waste handling:

• Smart Waste Bins – Emerging technologies now equip waste bins with sensors that monitor fill levels, helping organizations optimize collection schedules.
• Anaerobic Digestion – A proven method for composting without oxygen, often used for food waste. It produces biogas, which can be used as renewable energy.
• Baler and Compactor – These machines are mainstays of waste compression, but now, models incorporating AI can better identify and optimize recyclables.
• Commingle Recycling – Mixed recyclables are collected together for processing at materials recovery facilities (MRFs). Update: With contamination in mixed recycling streams increasing, targeted public education campaigns aim to clear up confusion.
• Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) – Where recyclables are sorted and prepared for reuse. The rise of robotics in MRFs is reducing manual sorting errors.
• Waste-to-Value (WTV) – Building on the well-known “waste-to-energy” (WTE), this term highlights converting waste into valuable resources like biofertilizers, bioplastics, and alternative fuels.
• Zero Waste-to-Landfill – A growing benchmark for businesses, this goal means diverting or recovering nearly 100% of waste instead of sending it to landfills.

Recycling and Diversion

Recycling is no longer just about throwing things in the blue bin. Diversion efforts are widening the scope of what can be prevented from reaching landfills. Here’s a snapshot of key terms:

• Circular Economy – Continuing to gain prominence, this approach ensures that materials are kept in use indefinitely, reducing waste and conserving resources. Example: Brands building products with post-consumer recycled content and designing them for longevity and repairability.
• Closed-Loop Recycling – Materials like aluminum and glass that cycle back into their original product form. Update: Policies incentivizing closed-loop practices are taking hold globally.
• EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) – A policy approach putting more accountability on manufacturers to handle the end-of-life processing of their products and packaging.
• Downcycling – When materials are recycled into a product of lesser quality, like turning plastic bottles into synthetic fabrics.
• Carbon Footprint – The measurement of greenhouse gases emitted by an activity or product. Update: Corporate decarbonization goals now prioritize emissions tracking throughout the supply chain.
• Leaching – A process where harmful substances can seep from waste into the environment, often associated with landfills. New Issue: Leachate management is critical as landfills expand, especially for managing PFAS (forever chemicals).
• Greenwashing – A consumer awareness term calling out companies that exaggerate or mislead claims about their sustainability efforts.
• Zero Waste – A strategy to ensure nothing becomes landfill-bound by reducing, reusing, recycling, and composting materials.
• Eco-Modular Design – A newer term reflecting product designs that allow for disassembly for easier recycling or replacement of parts.

What’s Next in Sustainable Practices?

Innovation and awareness are reshaping waste and recycling practices every day. By understanding new terminology, you’re better positioned to recognize greenwashing narratives, support sustainable companies, and advocate for better systems.

The alphabet soup of waste and recycling shows no sign of thinning out, and neither should our efforts to keep learning. Whether you’re choosing a smarter way to dispose of e-waste or planning waste-free work operations, understanding these concepts drives us closer to a planet with less waste.

Time to practice what we preach. Start small, but aim big. Your next move––separating recyclables, opting for reusable items, or reducing consumption––can help make these terms less of a conversation starter and more of an everyday norm. Together, we can shift from disposable to sustainable.

Resource: https://sor.epa.gov/sor_internet/registry/termreg/searchandretrieve/termsandacronyms/search.do

In today’s dynamic business landscape, effectively managing multiple vendors for waste disposal and recycling services can be quite challenging. This not only consumes valuable time and resources but also leads to operational inefficiencies and unnecessary costs. However, vendor consolidation presents an effective solution for businesses looking to optimize their waste management processes.

Vendor consolidation entails centralizing waste management services with a single-source provider, eliminating the need to coordinate with multiple vendors for different services. By partnering with a single-source service, businesses can benefit from:

• Potential to reduce their environmental footprint through more sustainable waste management practices.
• Significantly relieves the administrative burdens, making you lighter and more efficient in your operations.
• Businesses can eliminate the juggling of contracts, invoices, and communications with multiple vendors. 
• Allows for easier management and oversight of waste management activities, freeing up valuable time and resources that can be redirected to core business operations. It’s like a weight off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on what really matters.

Moreover, vendor consolidation can lead to substantial cost savings for businesses. By consolidating waste management services with one provider, businesses can potentially negotiate better pricing and terms, leading to significant cost efficiencies in the long run. Additionally, utilizing a single-source service can offer businesses improved insight into their waste management expenses, enabling more precise budgeting and planning. This strategic financial approach can contribute to a greater sense of confidence and dependability in your business activities.

Another advantage of vendor consolidation is the potential for significantly improved service quality and accountability. Businesses can maintain a consistent standard of service across all locations, improving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Furthermore, having a single point of contact for waste management services can simplify issue resolution and accountability, ensuring that any concerns or challenges are addressed promptly and effectively. This can foster reassurance in your business operations.

While the transition to a single-source provider may initially require some adjustments, the long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term challenges. By centralizing waste management services with a single-source provider, businesses can enjoy reduced administrative burden, potential cost savings, and improved service quality and accountability. As businesses continue to seek ways to optimize their operations and reduce complexities, vendor consolidation stands out as a compelling strategy for simplifying waste management processes and fostering an optimistic, forward-thinking approach.

Take a step towards a more sustainable future by checking out different industry strategies for sustainability on Quest’s website. Let’s work together to make a positive impact!

About Quest: Quest is a national waste and recycling service provider that enables larger businesses to excel in achieving their environmental and sustainability goals and responsibilities. Quest delivers focused expertise across multiple industry sectors to build single-source, client-specific solutions that generate quantifiable business and sustainability results. Addressing a wide variety of waste streams and recyclables, Quest provides information and data that tracks and reports the environmental results of Quest’s services, gives actionable data to improve business operations, and enables Quest’s clients to excel in their business and sustainability responsibilities.

Amid the growing demand for implementing lasting changes in businesses, a company must consider: Of all the sustainability efforts geared towards attaining zero waste, which ones are the quickest, most attainable, most impactful, and yield visible results at no expense? Some industries prove it’s possible. But what does that mean for other industries?

First, let’s review an industry success story. This story is a testament to the fact that achieving zero waste with no added cost is not just a dream, but a reality. By learning from these success stories, we can go through the reality checks within other industries and find out where a company like yours should start.

Industry Case Study: Grocery Achieves Zero Waste at Cost Neutral for Food/Packaging Waste

The food and grocery industry have successfully achieved zero waste for food and packaging at no extra cost. For instance, one of Quest’s major grocery clients uses Quest Progranics® to transform its unsold organic products into compost for farms and gardens. Additionally, renewable energy can be produced from non-organic food materials and packaging, reducing methane emissions and creating a closed-loop process.

Implementing a waste diversion process like this not only ensures that nothing goes to the landfill but also improves a store’s operational efficiency. Importantly, it does so while keeping costs neutral, or even better. This example demonstrates that taking environmentally friendly actions doesn’t have to be a financial burden.

For more information on the organic waste-to-compost process and the valuable insights that can be applied across different markets, you can click here.

Doing the right thing doesn’t have to sting the bottom line!

Industry Possibilities: How Can YOU Achieve Zero Waste at No Expense?

To achieve zero waste, it’s essential to identify which materials hold value. This requires businesses to conduct a waste analysis.

By conducting a waste analysis, a company can: 

• Understand an operation’s ins and outs
• Identify the areas that generate the most waste
• Determine the necessary changes to achieve zero waste

Once the analysis is complete, businesses can use data to make informed decisions. This is especially effective when working with a data management company. Regardless of the industry, the first step toward achieving zero waste at no additional cost is to measure and assess the waste produced.

Reality Check: When starting a new program, it usually requires spending some money before reaching a point where you start saving or stop spending extra money. This is similar to getting a membership at a warehouse club store or a waterpark for the summer; there’s an initial cost. However, after using it for a while, you might notice that you’re saving more money than you’re spending.

So, is it possible to achieve cost neutrality? Absolutely, but it requires commitment. After conducting a waste analysis and establishing a system, it’s important to evaluate the results and make necessary adjustments to reach zero waste goals. This process starts with a dedication to meeting customer demands and preserving natural resources. Your commitment is essential to achieving cost neutrality and sustainability.

Every business is unique, and we recognize that. However, waste analysis is a versatile tool that can lead to customized solutions to suit any business, regardless of its nature or operations. It’s a straightforward and efficient method to achieve zero waste, and it can pave the way to cost neutrality for your business.

We invite you to take the first step towards a more sustainable future by exploring various industry approaches to sustainability on Quest’s website. Together, we can make a difference!

About Quest: Quest is a national waste and recycling service provider that enables larger businesses to excel in achieving their environmental and sustainability goals and responsibilities. Quest delivers focused expertise across multiple industry sectors to build single-source, client-specific solutions that generate quantifiable business and sustainability results. Addressing a wide variety of waste streams and recyclables, Quest provides information and data that tracks and reports the environmental results of Quest’s services, gives actionable data to improve business operations, and enables Quest’s clients to excel in their business and sustainability responsibilities.

WasteExpo 2024 drew to a close earlier this month. From May 6-9 in Las Vegas, North America’s most significant solid waste, recycling, organics, and sustainability trade show took place. 

It was a testament to the power of innovation and sustainability, showcasing the latest, cutting-edge tech (like AI) that is shaping the future of our industry. This event allowed attendees to engage with some of the most inspiring creatives and thinkers, sparking hope and optimism for a more sustainable future.

For practical insights to invigorate or revolutionize your company’s efforts, delve into the following three key learnings from this year’s WasteExpo!

#1 – Measuring Your Company’s Emissions is Critical

One heavily discussed topic across the panels and show floor was how critical it is to measure your company’s emissions. Many businesses are now focusing on accurately measuring and reporting scope 3 emissions, which can account for around 90% of a company’s total carbon output and 75% of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

To make it possible for organizations to commit to sustainability and reduce emissions, a fundamental solution discussed was to develop a system to manage your data collection process. Data-driven insights assist leaders in establishing meaningful goals and cultivating stakeholder trust. Many steps are involved, and having someone to manage the complexities allows your business to focus on its core: caring for your customers.

Tips to Consider:

• Engage the C-suite and board to ensure that everyone in your company comprehends the implications of Scope 3 and how it will affect their business area.
• Minimize the amount of waste produced in operations and implement recycling/reuse measures that result in net greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions.
• Explore the option of sourcing materials locally and look for low-carbon opportunities. Substitute high GHG-emitting raw materials and transportation modes with lower GHG-emitting alternatives.
• Decrease energy consumption and reconsider energy sources (e.g., generate energy on-site using renewable sources).

By following these tips, you’ll progress towards your sustainability goals, know where you stand, and identify areas for improvement.

At WasteExpo’s “Beyond Myths & Conceptions” session, the panelists shared insights on determining carbon footprints, designing a plan to start a journey toward carbon neutrality, and learning how to create a plan that adds to your company’s bottom line.

#2 – Sustainability is a Continuous Effort

Sustainability is never a one and done thing. Continuous improvement provides a practical approach for organizations to achieve long-term sustainability goals. It involves constantly assessing and improving processes and systems to achieve better outcomes.

By applying continuous improvement principles to address environmental sustainability, you can identify areas for changes and improvements that will lead to more sustainable practices. Keeping this in mind will ensure a continued focus on specific initiatives to support them.

#3 – Reporting: Demonstrate Commitment (Internally & Externally)

Another key topic was how valuable sustainability reporting is for demonstrating your company’s commitment to transparency and building trust with your employees, partners, and stakeholders. By providing clear and auditable data on environmental inputs, leaders can keep all informed about the amount of recycled materials and motivate everyone to continuously improve. 

This fosters a culture of accountability and responsibility, and communicates a commitment to environmental, social, and governance goals to the public and employees. Ultimately, this engagement highlights a dedication to creating positive social and environmental impacts.

For more useful tips from events like WasteExpo, Quest invites you to review our 2023 recap, our most recent South by Southwest visit, or follow Quest’s social media channels (LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook) to stay current with our articles and posts. And save the date for WasteExpo 2025 on May 5-8 in Las Vegas, NV!

About Us

Quest Resource Management Group (NASDAQ:QRHC) is a national provider of waste and recycling services that uses deep expertise to build single-source, client-specific solutions to address a wide variety of waste streams and recyclables across multiple industry sectors. Quest also provides information and data that tracks and reports the environmental results of Quest’s services and provides actionable data to improve business operations.

Latest Trends & Strategies in Bettering Your Business’s Tomorrow

Earlier this month, the South by Southwest festival and conference in Austin, Texas, hosted several sessions focused on the growing concern for our planet and its resources. These sessions aimed to educate attendees about the need to transition from traditional energy sources to cleaner options and to encourage them to take action toward creating a sustainable future for their companies.

The panels, led by prominent industry leaders and government officials, discussed a range of topics, including the business value of sustainability and the integration of electric vehicles into fleets. They also emphasized the importance of reducing waste and utilizing resources more efficiently.

If you’re an executive interested in improving your company’s efficiency while taking steps toward sustainability, you may find it helpful to review the key takeaways from the sustainability-centered panels that took place at SXSW.

The “Go Green to Make Green” SXSW 2024 Panel, featuring experts (L-R) Stafford Sheehan, Kate Sixt, Chris Kanik and Marta Pazos. Photo by Quest RMG.

Business Value of Sustainability: “Go Green to Make Green” Panel

Many people believe that sustainability and business value are conflicting goals. But in reality, companies from various industries are embracing sustainable and eco-friendly procedures and technologies to cut costs, enhance competitiveness, and boost profitability. 

The “Go Green to Make Green” panel highlighted how businesses can become more sustainable and gain a competitive advantage.

Here are the takeaways from the panel:

• What does sustainability really mean?

• • • Chris Kanik, a renowned figure in the sustainability field and the founder of Smart Cups, shared his perspective. He emphasized that sustainability is not a mere buzzword or a popular trend but a crucial element in the preservation of life and resources.
    • Stafford Sheehan, a seasoned chief technology officer and co-founder at Air Company, offered practical advice. He suggested that businesses approach sustainability by considering operational, environmental, and economic aspects. He recommends aiming for at least two out of three, but ideally, all three, making it a feasible and effective strategy.

• How can you make sustainability profitable?

• • Katie Sixt, a leading expert in biotechnology and a Principal Director at the Pentagon, highlighted the potential benefits of her strategy. She pointed out that waste management is a significant issue and recommended focusing on waste reclamation. This approach not only promotes sustainability but also creates new profit opportunities, a win-win situation for businesses.
  • Kanik stressed the importance of marketing sustainability. However, companies need to be careful of greenwashing. They must get accurate data and consider the complete life cycle of a product to determine its total environmental impact. This process takes time, and companies must be diligent and conservative in their reporting and messaging to minimize legal risks. Making hasty decisions without proper analysis can lead to new problems that require additional solutions.

The “EVs: A Big Bet Needing Big Data” SXSW 2024 Panel, featuring experts (L-R) Reid ‘Rusty’ Heffner, Ann Xu, and Dr. Rachael Nealer. Photo by Quest RMG.

Future of EVs: “A Big Bet Needing Big Data” Panel

States, the federal government, and industry have invested billions of dollars in electric vehicles, betting on the idea that American EV adoption will be massive and play a critical role in protecting the planet’s future. However, this is not a guaranteed success. 

Big data can make it a sure bet, and it must be utilized. Sharing data can ensure that charging stations are in the right locations for fleets, supply chains are prepared, and the promised reduction in emissions is achieved. Governments must leverage big data if they want EVs to be successful.

Here are the takeaways from the panel:

• The investment of billions of dollars in EVs by the federal government, states, and industries is a significant milestone. In 2023, 1.5 million plug-in vehicles were sold. However, the panel emphasized that data sharing is crucial to ensure strategically placed charging stations, prepared supply chains, and reduced emissions. The success of EVs depends on the effective utilization of data.
• Planning is critical when building out an EV-charging network to transition fleets. The panel emphasized that data and reporting play a pivotal role in this process, as they can determine whether EVs will support the routes businesses need.

The “Go Green to Make Green” SXSW 2024 Panel, featuring experts (L-R) Angie Crone, Dr. Lara Ramdin, Alexandria Coari and Ben Mand. Photo by Quest RMG.

From Waste to Gold: “Transforming Food Waste into Profits” Panel

It is estimated that about 182 billion pounds of food are thrown away every year in the United States. This amounts to approximately 149 billion meals and over $444 billion of wasted resources. This not only has a negative impact on the environment but also leads to potential losses for businesses.

This session discussed different approaches to reducing food waste and creating impactful products. The experts shared various methods such as making use of more of the harvest, upcycling food and ingredients, and collaborating with businesses and the government to minimize food waste. 

Here are the takeaways from the panel:

• 30%-40% of all food produced goes unsold/uneaten each year in the U.S. Can you imagine eating dinner and immediately throwing a third of it away each time? 
• 8%-10% of our global climate emissions comes from this food waste.
• Wasted fruit could be turned into nutritious powders or used to make compost (like Quest Proganics®). Mountains of valuable ingredients exist in spoiled and rejected fruit that can be reused elsewhere – why toss it? 
• Waste valorization (backed by data) is in the top 10 waste solutions. A life cycle analysis can determine the impact potential.

To improve operational efficiency, business leaders like you can collaborate with others who can gather the data you need to reach a sustainable operation. They can also help you to conserve resources, reuse/recycle, and manage waste properly. 

If you need guidance on your journey, consider partnering with a service provider whose business goals align with yours. Let the above learnings (and all of what we share each month in our leadership column) guide you toward bettering your business’ tomorrow.

A key topic for many businesses is accurately measuring and reporting scope 3 emissions. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, that very topic could often represent around 90% of a company’s total carbon output and 75% of a company’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

As more organizations commit to sustainability and their emissions reduction targets, consider the common challenges that companies face when reporting scope 3 emissions and review the below three-step guide on how you can prepare for your reporting journey.

Scope 3 Emissions: Challenges of Measuring & Reporting

There are several obstacles companies can stumble across when it comes to the measurement and reporting of scope 3 emissions. While each business is unique and will face very specific challenges, some of the most common ones are:

• Reliance on Value Chain Partners – According to ESG Today, only 10% of companies accurately and comprehensively measure their scope 3 emissions. Within supply chains, many rely on shared data to estimate their emissions. However, organizations often struggle to collect relevant and sufficiently granular data from their suppliers. Sometimes, it’s taken from industry averages rather than accurate calculations.
• Data/Reporting – Emissions are generated in each step, from raw materials and production to delivery. Identifying hot spots and developing reduction strategies will only be more challenging without quality and accurate data/reporting. 

GHG Protocol Scopes/Emissions Across the Value Chain

Courtesy of GHGProtocol.org

Step 1: Understand Your Collection and Reporting Process

Accurate data measurements enhance your experience when reporting Scope 3 Emissions.

• How is your company’s data being collected and reported on?
• What frameworks are being used?
• Does supplier data match the timeframes for your company’s reporting?
• Do you need to fill in gaps with secondary data (government statistics, industry or national averages or studies)? If so, is your company disclosing the use of secondary data?
• How granular is your data (inputs such as emissions by the truckload, transportations modes, mileage and fuel data)?

Companies should rely on data that can be measured. Reliable data collection techniques and reporting frameworks better equip businesses to make decisions, monitor progress, and efficiently manage their environmental impact along the entire value chain.

Step 2: Assess Relevance of the 15 GHG Scope 3 Categories

Scope 3 covers 15 categories (review them here via EPA.gov) that are broken down into upstream and downstream emissions. These categories provide organizations with more guidance and structure when reporting.

• Focus on the material impact areas by having an assessment done to help you identify the hot spots in your organization’s value chain
• Map material categories across your value chain and see who’s involved in each category (e.g., customers, suppliers, etc.).

Step 3: Plan and Make Adjustments

Develop a system to manage your data collection process. Many steps/parties are involved, and having someone to manage the complexities allows your business to focus on its core: taking care of your customers.

Tips to Reduce Scope 3 Emissions

• Engage the C-suite and board to confirm that everyone in your company understands the implications of Scope 3 and how it will impact their business area.
• Reduce the quantity of waste generated in operations and implement recycling/reuse measures that lead to net GHG reductions.
• Consider sourcing materials locally and find low-carbon opportunities. Replace high GHG-emitting raw materials and transportation modes with lower GHG-emitting raw materials and transportation modes.
• Reduce energy consumption and reevaluate energy sources (e.g., generate energy on-site using renewable sources).

Scope 3 reporting is a journey. As you work towards your sustainability goals, you’ll gather more information and improve your overall performance.

Having a flexible plan in place allows you to focus on your customers.

Meet Our CEO/President

Ray Hatch has served as President and CEO of Quest Resource Management Group (NASDAQ:QRHC) since February 2016. He’s a senior executive with 25 years of in-depth experience in waste management and food services industries that generated more than a billion dollars in revenue.

Quest, a national provider of waste and recycling services, uses deep expertise to build single-source, client-specific solutions to address a wide variety of waste streams and recyclables across multiple industry sectors. Quest also provides information and data that tracks and reports the environmental results of Quest’s services and provides actionable data to improve business operations.

Read our Q&A below to learn more about what makes Ray tick and how his eyes are always fixed on what’s in front of him as well as what’s on the horizon for Quest and its clients.

Q&A

Hatch: “Something that goes across the platform of our clients is living in an environment where managing and controlling costs are becoming increasingly important. It’s more than just a cost of waste programs; it’s the opportunity cost associated with spending too much time trying to adhere to regulations and standards. Businesses are having to manage something outside the scope of their primary business.

We help to alleviate them of that responsibility so they can care for the customers, make better widgets, and take market share away from their competitors. All around (investors, consumers, and industry standards) expect businesses to be more sustainable and be better stewards of their market. Those expectations continue to grow.

Our clients are not in the waste business. They’re in the ‘something else’ business that doesn’t necessarily open them up to understanding alternatives for different waste to different waste streams. For them, dedicating resources to finding new, sustainable homes for their waste streams doesn’t allow them to be productive.

That’s what we do. We’re a B2B problem solver who’s focused on the issues that bring the most value to our clients.”

“One of the reasons I took this job in 2016 was/is our business model. As an asset-light entity, we have infinite flexibility. We’re not tied to capital assets. I can make my decisions on what we do and what we want to do differently without negative economic impact. That said, evolving with the times is vital. And that shines a positive light on our company.

As regulations and technology change how you deal with these different waste streams and commodities, we can pivot almost immediately to that more advantageous situation for our clients. We can shift away from obsolete processes and technologies. We can utilize other people’s more advantageous capital assets. And the same thing happens with regulation as well.

We have expertise in-house that is focused on understanding regulatory changes and trends. And that’s one of the services we’re able to provide to clients to keep them aware of what’s happening or what’s going to be happening relative to the challenges coming at them. A good business partner looks out for each other and finds ways to benefit from the relationship mutually.

We are and will continue to look out for our clients, not only their current needs and concerns but, more importantly, those coming along in the future because that’s what they count on us to do for them. That’s where we should be in that supply chain.”

“Certainly, the environment and diversion. But it’s best to have passion about things you can control and impact instead of what you dream of. What we control and impact is helping businesses be more sustainable, more economically efficient, and grow their market share in the competitive environment.

Some studies show that companies with sustainable quality business practices typically have better economic performance as well. It’s because they’re responsible, good business people who are forward-thinking. And that applies to their economic results more so than the sustainable practice.

When you look at companies passionate about doing the right thing, it’s not just about waste. They want to do the right thing with their employees. They want to do the right things for their customers. They want to do the right things for their products. If you’re a ‘do the right thing’ person, it’s usually not exclusive to one aspect of your business. And that’s why you see a great performance.

I’m passionate about helping those companies that want to continuously improve and do the right thing to be better in their space. The impact and quality we have as a company is measured by our clients’ impact and quality, and that’s what we should be passionate about.”

Solar energy and wind power are key sustainable alternatives to burning fossil fuels and mitigating climate change. While these greener energies have already helped the environment, their entire life cycles haven’t been considered. Soon, solar panels and wind turbines will produce tons of waste when they reach the end of their lives. Shall we continue to play catch-up or develop methods to get ahead of it?

Let’s examine the challenges with recycling these materials, the infrastructure and regulations needed to ensure these clean energy solutions stay out of the landfill, and what can be done to address this problem.

Huge solar power plant to use solar energy in a picturesque green field in Ukraine. Aerial panoramic drone shot.

Solar Panels

What to Know:

• The average lifespan of a solar panel is 30-35 years. Following 2022, the average annual growth rate is at 21%.
• Within 10-20 years, expired panels containing valuable materials and hazardous chemicals (such as lead, silver, copper and crystalline silicon) will go to the landfill. By 2050, nearly 86 million tons of waste will be in the landfill.
• Recycling panels can decrease the risk of toxins leaving from landfills into the environment, increase the stability of the supply chain, lower raw materials costs and expand market opportunities for recyclers.

What’s Standing in the Way:

The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that less than 10% of the country’s decommissioned panels are recycled, largely because sending them to the landfill costs far less than recycling. Solid waste landfills typically charge $1-$2 (or $5 if deemed hazardous) to accept a solar panel. Recycling, on the other hand, can cost around $15-$45 per module.

What’s on the Horizon:

With growing environmental concerns and more focus on circularity, the gap could close in the next few years, allowing recycling to be more cost-effective and increasing landfill costs. Additionally, with environmental laws and regulations on the rise, it will become increasingly more difficult to find a landfill licensed to accept hazardous waste and assume legal liability. With today’s government support, recycled materials can meet 30%-50% of solar manufacturing needs by 2040.

Wind turbine farm against distant mountains.

Wind Turbines

What to Know:

• More than 60,000 wind turbines are installed in the U.S., with an average annual growth of 12%.
• The average lifespan of a wind turbine is about 20 years, with routine maintenance, and between 3,000-9,000 blades in the U.S. will be decommissioned each year for the next five years, with annual numbers increasing to around 20,000 by 2040.
• Projections for wind turbine waste are anticipated to reach 47 million tons by 2050.
• About 85% of turbine component materials can be recycled or reused, from the composite blades (up to 350 feet long) to the steel tower. With proper attention paid to the recovery of all materials and adaptation of circular economy models, wind turbines have the potential to reach 100%.

What’s Standing in the Way:

Unfortunately, the mixed nature of the blade materials makes separating the glass fibers and metals from the plastics difficult. Because recycling options are limited and costly, like solar panels, most turbine blades are laid out in pastures or taken to landfills at the end of their lifespan. Furthermore, blades have gotten longer as technology has advanced, creating shorter turbine towers and football field-sized blades for better energy production, thus creating even more unrecyclable materials.

What’s on the Horizon:

The subsidies and tax credits for green energy projects in the Inflation Reduction Act and the current administration’s pledge to expand offshore wind nationally and harness more reliable, affordable clean energy are promising for the industry. Additionally, governments worldwide have been experimenting with retired blades by shredding them into raw materials for cement manufacturing or using them to build playgrounds and bridges.

As solar and wind energy is swiftly adopted, it’s essential to understand the entire lifecycle of these emerging technologies. Continually relying on fossil fuels is not the answer, but neither is recklessly disposing renewable energy waste. A solution must be found to repurpose decommissioned solar panels and wind blades as these power sources expand.

What Can Be Done:

While energy companies and governments are looking for options to treat these waste streams and minimize the utilization of conventional end-of-life approaches, all companies can support the development of clean energy recycling infrastructure through several initiatives.

Consider the following:

• Total Waste Analysis – It’s natural to only flock toward problem areas. However, sustainability should be a comprehensive approach. While using clean energy solutions may alleviate pain points, they could create other issues. A total waste analysis can look at the ins and outs of an operation.
• Prioritize Recycling and Reuse – Recycling is vital to the circular economy. However, while it’s a better alternative to the landfill, recycling doesn’t lead to the most impactful outcome. A more significant step forward in circularity is the reuse of products that makes recycling unnecessary.
• Goal Alignment – Work with or buy from companies with goals that align with yours. As technology advances, do the product designers and manufacturers you do business with actively work to improve efficiency, lengthen lifespans and enhance recyclability/reuse?
• Reporting and Data – Lastly, reporting helps grow the demand for sustainability. The more we know about the functionality of a product or operation, the more we know about what to do and not do. Accurate, transparent, validated and up-to-date data can help develop and execute landfill diversion strategies to improve carbon emission results.

The more sustainable efforts made, the greater the demand for change!

While Barbie and Oppenheimer are the talk of the town regarding the summer movie season, don’t let the smaller ones with valuable takeaways for business owners fall under the radar.

One such film is the newly-released documentary Matter Out of Place, a multi-part study of how humankind around the globe handles its waste. Rather than engage viewers with the typical talking-heads approach or voice narration, this work primarily consists of long, static shots sans music or commentary. The images speak for themselves, without any true agenda other than capturing the reality of waste and how it’s managed or ignored.

Review our collected insights below to see if they bring awareness or spark new ideas for your company’s operations and programs.

A scene in ‘Matter Out of Place’ showing a town disposing of their waste in a landfill. Courtesy of © Nikolaus Geyrhalter Filmproduktion GmbH.

Waste: Keep in Sight, Keep in Mind

Early in Matter Out of Place, there’s a moment when the adage “out of sight, out of mind” is uttered by a landfill researcher as an excavator digs into a neighborhood field. During the long take, we witness a seemingly harmless, stark area reveal massive amounts of waste buried just a few feet under its surface. Tires, oil cans, and glass accompany the soil used for agricultural purposes, such as growing potatoes; thus, bringing anything but comfort when thinking about where food manufacturers and grocery stores get their supplies.

“Out of sight, out of mind” often becomes the mentality when businesses handle and dispose of their waste: “If it’s swept under the rug, it’s not a problem.” The reality is it becomes a problem for later or someone else. The belief that productivity is more achievable if waste is entirely off the board rather than managed is damaging – as the film further illustrates when it examines how cultures as disparate as Albania, the Maldives, Nepal, and Switzerland dispose of their waste.

A scene in ‘Matter Out of Place’ showing the lengthy process for disposing of waste in a snowy location. A garbage truck must take a ski lift up and down the mountain on waste haul days. Courtesy of © Nikolaus Geyrhalter Filmproduktion GmbH.

What Are the Bad Habits Visible in Matter Out of Place’s Stillness?

• Riverbanks – The film’s opening image is a majestic view of snowy mountains and water streams. The subsequent image is a close-up of the riverbanks populated with bottles, plastic bags, and various other environmentally harmful items.
• Beach Resorts – This time, compared to the riverbank sequence, the two shots are flipped with the white sands beach location starting on a tighter framing to capture the beauty of a private beach. The subsequent image is of the framing widened to show waste on the shoreline, just outside the resort.
• Mountains – This particular area’s town transfers all its waste to a dumping ground halfway up a mountain. It’s an open trash land that’s free to allow rainwater to wash bacteria and other hazardous substances down the mountainside to the city and wildlife populations below.

Framing Reality: Each location examined in the film displays the “out of mind, out of sight” behavior. It all comes down to how the environments in cities, parks or at businesses are framed. A wide shot of the mountains is a scenic picture, but when narrowing the view to look at the details, the truth is revealed.

Same with the beach resort sequence in the film: the camera backs up to reveal the most cared about parts of the beach are the most profitable ones. Who’s to say that those surrounding regions won’t push the animals and plant life out that keeps the “profitable” areas thriving? You can’t slap a Band-Aid on and expect it to hold. Eventually, the levee will break, and the consequences will be painful.

A scene in ‘Matter Out of Place’ showing volunteers working together to collect all waste following a festival event. Courtesy of © Nikolaus Geyrhalter Filmproduktion GmbH.

Our Suggestion: How the problem relates to companies (like yours) is electing only to treat the pain points, not the entire system. There’s an operational ecosystem with a workplace, and waste plays a monumental role. Suppose an enterprise evaluates what it takes in, sells, and disposes of. In that case, it can develop an efficient flow that can focus better on storefront operations while reaching a level of sustainability that aligns with customer demands, environmental needs, and state/local requirements.

Why purchase an item packaged with environmentally harmful material that may take up more space on the floor (with hefty shipping fees) and is more difficult to break down and dispose of? That’s added time, responsibilities, and (possibly) expenses. This is where a waste audit comes in to provide the information needed to plan, execute, and measure through reporting and tracking.

Efficiency isn’t always achieved through removal. By merely removing waste and adding it to a landfill (or any other disposal forms, as featured in the documentary), it’s taking away from space that could be used for something else while also causing more resources to be collected to make new products. It throws ecosystems off balance and could set off chain reactions.

If more businesses familiarize themselves with their waste processes (like Matter Out of Place details with its extended stretches of various locations disposing of waste), it may create the understanding to influence change, which, in turn, can provide a competitive edge.