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.

Summer often brings a shift in customer habits, industry demands and operational challenges for businesses. Whether you’re in hospitality, retail, manufacturing, or healthcare, waste streams tend to change with the seasons. 

For many industries, summer signals an increase in certain types of waste—from food and packaging to construction debris and product returns. To remain sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective, businesses must adopt circular economy principles tailored to these seasonal trends.

Here, we’ll explore summer waste realities across eight key industries and offer actionable tips to help your business manage waste smarter while staying sustainable all summer long and beyond.

Understanding Seasonal Variations in Waste

Seasonal trends in waste streams arise from shifts in consumer behaviors and industry practices. Summer sees increased outdoor events, peak tourism, construction surges, and warm-weather dining. These trends generate specific waste challenges unique to each industry:

• Automotive sees higher vehicle and tire servicing needs as more people hit the road for vacations.
• Transportation/Logistics face challenges with packaging waste from surges in summer shipments.
• Hospitality/Restaurants encounter food waste spikes amid busier outdoor dining seasons.
• Retail generates additional packaging waste from sales of summer seasonal goods.
• Grocery experiences higher demand for seasonal produce, which increases spoilage risks.
• Manufacturing/Construction accelerate activities due to optimal weather, producing more operational waste.
• Healthcare contends with elevated patient volumes (e.g., heat-related illnesses), resulting in more medical waste.

Being proactive during the summer months offers an opportunity to “close the loop” by designing waste streams to be reused, composted or recycled, reducing environmental impact and optimizing costs.

Practical Steps for All Businesses to Close the Loop

No matter your industry, the following steps can help ensure your waste strategy aligns with circular economy principles this summer:

1. Audit Your Waste Streams.
   Identify what types of waste your facility generates most during the summer and evaluate opportunities for reduction, reuse and recycling.
2. Engage Employees.
   Train staff to follow waste-sorting protocols and encourage creative input on waste-reduction processes. It takes a sustainable ecosystem to move the needle.
3. Collaborate with Vendors.
   Work with suppliers who share your sustainability goals, such as those offering reusable shipping materials or eco-friendly products. Or, better yet, if you work with a waste handling company, there’s a strong chance they are connected with a large network of vendors to identify which vendors are best aligned with your goals and values.
4. Use Technology.
   Implement waste tracking systems to monitor volumes over time and assess the effectiveness of your waste strategies. Know which tech is best suited for your company, so you avoid possibly taking on a new challenge.
5. Educate Consumers.
   Build customer loyalty by showcasing your waste-reduction initiatives. Provide incentives for sustainable behaviors, like discounts for reusable containers or participation in recycling programs.
6. Set Measurable Goals.
   Define success with key metrics (e.g., “reduce food waste by 30%”) and communicate progress transparently.

The Benefits of Sustainability All Season Long

Adopting a circular economy mindset brings numerous advantages. By reducing waste, businesses save on disposal costs, improve efficiency and cultivate customer goodwill. Aligning waste strategies with summer demand patterns ensures your operations remain agile and ready to adapt to other seasonal shifts.

Summer may come with its challenges, but it’s also ripe with opportunities. By preparing now and rethinking waste and recycling management, your business can set the stage for sustainable practices that will carry forward into autumn and beyond. Closing the loop isn’t just about cutting waste; it’s about creating a thriving, connected system where resources are always reused and valued. Will your business take the first step?

The Waste Expo 2025 in Las Vegas continues to illuminate the road ahead for the recycling, environmental services and circular economy industries. From groundbreaking technologies to strategic conversations, the event provided a platform to explore the innovations shaping the future. 

At Quest, our team attended with a mission to stay ahead of emerging trends, strengthen key relationships and uncover tools to better serve our clients. Here are the highlights from our experience and what they mean for the evolving landscape.

1. Strengthening Vendor Partnerships

A key theme of this year’s Waste Expo was the evolving role of vendors. Rather than being seen as traditional service providers, vendors are pivoting to create more value through services like tailored site analyses and waste audits. These enhanced collaborations aim to optimize operations, reduce costs and deliver better outcomes for businesses. For Quest, this represents an opportunity to foster stronger, multi-level relationships that not only solve challenges but create greater long-term value for our clients.

Learn more about how consolidating vendors can simplify operations and enhance efficiency in our detailed guide here.

2. Spotlight on Electric Vehicles (EVs)

The shift toward electric vehicle fleets stole the spotlight at this year’s Expo. EVs promise lower emissions and enhanced operational efficiency, marking a significant transition from traditional fleet technologies. The wide display of EV trucks and advanced charging systems felt like a glimpse into the future, reaffirming our industry’s commitment to sustainable progress. At Quest, we’re already exploring how these developments can integrate into our offerings to help clients meet their environmental goals.

3. Innovation in Equipment Design

This year also showcased fresh innovations aimed at tackling real-world challenges. For example, new open-top container designs featuring dual-directional doors were unveiled, offering flexibility and efficiency in loading and unloading. These kinds of practical advancements are what enable businesses to streamline processes and reduce bottlenecks. Seeing such solutions firsthand helps Quest identify which technologies align with the needs of our clients.

4. Expanding Markets, Expanding Opportunities

Another valuable takeaway was the industry’s focus on expanding into underserved markets. Vendors are exploring ways to grow their footprints, creating competitive dynamics that in turn present opportunities for clients to benefit from better cost structures and service efficiencies. These expansions also signal a promising shift in addressing challenges for businesses operating in regions with limited service options.

5. Advanced Recycling Techniques

Seeing advancements in recycling technology was particularly exciting. Vendors unveiled processes to clean and separate contaminated plastics, enabling these materials to be reused by their original generators. These innovative techniques not only address sustainability goals but also solve operational issues for businesses striving to reduce landfill contributions. Quest is committed to leveraging these innovations to help clients improve recycling rates and achieve their environmental objectives.

6. Adapting to Industry Evolution

The Expo reflected an industry that never stops evolving. From the increasing adoption of EVs to thoughtful discussions around market shifts, the pace of change is consistent and impactful. The announcement of a new, every-other-year format for Waste Expo events signals a potential shift in how these gatherings are structured. Despite these changes, the Expo remains a key opportunity to stay informed, exchange ideas and elevate conversations that push the industry forward.

Sphere is a music and entertainment arena in Paradise, Nevada, United States, east of the Las Vegas Strip.

The Quest Perspective

At Quest, we view events like Waste Expo as essential opportunities to expand our knowledge and deepen our connections. This is how we continue to lead in offering dynamic solutions and insights that meet the unique challenges of the businesses we work with. For us, learning about cutting-edge innovations and fostering vendor relationships isn’t just about keeping up with the industry. It’s about anticipating the needs of our clients and proactively addressing them with expertise and creativity.

By staying at the frontier of industry trends, we ensure that we’re not only a trusted partner but a driver of change in delivering sustainable progress for our clients and their communities.

Our Quest team had the privilege of meeting with valued vendor partners and forging new connections at Waste Expo 2025, focusing on growth opportunities and collaborative market planning.

About Quest

Quest Resource Management Group helps businesses reduce their environmental impact through tailored recycling programs, sustainable solutions and actionable insights. Our focus on innovation and collaboration empowers our clients to meet their diversion goals while driving efficiency and long-lasting value.

From February 11-13, Las Vegas became the backdrop for the Restaurant Facility Management Association (RFMA) Annual Conference, a cornerstone event for restaurant facilities professionals. This three-day extravaganza brought together industry leaders to connect, learn, and dive into the latest solutions tailored for our unique challenges.

RFMA 2025 was a whirlwind of insightful discussions, dynamic panels, and engaging exchanges among exhibitors. It was a vibrant marketplace of ideas where attendees could explore innovative approaches to tackle the pressing sustainability issues facing the restaurant industry.

Join us as we delve deeper into the key pain points related to work costs that sparked conversation and collaboration, uncovering empowering solutions that will help facilities professionals rise to the occasion and manage expenses effectively.

1. Timely Payment of Invoices

Significant Challenges: A leading restaurant chain reported critical insights, highlighting that 50 of their locations faced service interruptions due to delayed payments. This alarming situation triggered a series of interconnected issues:

• Increased food waste – As waste removal services are halted, the accumulation of waste creates unpleasant odors that deter customers from dining at affected restaurants. It is essential to maintain a clean and inviting environment to ensure customer satisfaction. Unfortunately, foul smells from the buildup of waste compound the challenges of effective waste management.
• City fines for non-compliance – Disruptions in waste management due to stop services can attract scrutiny from local authorities. Accumulating waste can lead to violations of health and sanitation codes, exposing restaurants to fines and further damaging their reputation within the community.
• Surged rodent activity & other health hazards – Piling waste creates an attractive environment for pests, leading to increased rodent populations and other health risks. The breakdown of sanitary operations endangers not only the restaurant’s cuisine quality but also public health, undermining the trust that patrons place in these establishments.

Suggested Solutions:

• Implement systematized accounts payable – By implementing a structured payment system, a waste services and management provider can address all waste and recycling needs with a single invoice, allowing restaurants to enhance their services and develop a more resilient operational framework.
• Engage management service collaboration – Partnering with external management services can streamline operational efficiency, ensuring that vendors and service providers maintain a pulse on payment schedules and requirements, thus safeguarding against the risks posed by late payments and ensuring their services run uninterrupted.

2. Front-of-House Contamination

Significant Challenges: Front-of-house contamination is a persistent issue in the restaurant industry. Improper food disposal and cross-contamination between recycling drink cups or plastic and food waste often go unnoticed by customers, but they are all too common. Key issues include:

• Misplacement of general waste and food scraps – The failure to properly segregate waste complicates recycling efforts, reducing the effectiveness of sustainable practices and increasing operational costs.
• Non-compliance and increased costs – Restaurants that struggle with waste separation often face increased disposal costs and fines for non-compliance with local regulations.

Suggested Solutions:

• Embrace simplicity and clear signage – It’s important to avoid overwhelming people, as this can lead to mistakes and a loss of care. Therefore, keeping processes simple is essential. Use clear and easily understandable signage. Integrating this approach into the company culture can significantly reduce contamination. For example, a color-coded bin system that matches food packaging can make waste disposal more intuitive and encourage patrons to participate in waste separation, ultimately promoting a cleaner environment.
• Volunteer management during peak hours – Designating staff members to oversee waste disposal during busy times can lead to a notable decrease in contamination rates, enhancing the overall guest experience.

3. Organics Recycling Hurdles

Significant Challenges: In specific states and municipalities, organics recycling is mandated, presenting significant challenges for organizations. These requirements often result in increased budgets, as managing organic waste can be as costly, if not more so, than processing municipal solid waste. Additionally, many organizations have publicly committed to sustainability goals but find themselves at a standstill after addressing their traditional recycling needs. This gap complicates their ability to fully implement effective organics recycling programs and communicate their sustainability efforts effectively.

Suggested Solutions:

Partner with organizations that have established infrastructure – Collaborating with partners who specialize in organics recycling can provide organizations with access to the necessary resources and expertise. These partnerships can help in creating compelling narratives regarding how the organic waste is managed and utilized. By showcasing successful outcomes, such as composting initiatives or the supply of organic materials to local farms, organizations can enrich their public relations stories and validate their sustainability initiatives. This not only enhances their credibility but also engages their customers in a broader conversation about environmental responsibility and community impact.

Looking Ahead

As we wrapped up the conference, a clear sentiment emerged: the restaurant facilities industry possesses immense potential for positive change through collaboration, innovation, and a relentless focus on sustainability. With the insights gathered and solutions shared, attendees left inspired to implement actionable strategies within their own organizations, positioning themselves as leaders in the movement towards a more sustainable future for restaurants.

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.

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.

Waste Expo 2023 closed the curtain on another exciting event. On May 1-4 in New Orleans, North America’s largest solid waste, recycling, organics and sustainability trade show occurred. It allowed attendees to engage with some of the most inspiring creatives and thinkers while exploring a massive exhibit hall featuring the latest, innovative tech.

For ideas to jumpstart or shake up your sustainability efforts, review the below six great learnings from this year’s Waste Expo!

#1 – Waste is a Resource

Rather than view waste as a problem and a burden, see it as a valuable resource. It can be managed to produce sustainable benefits for a wide range of actions, taking the two ends of a product life cycle (namely resource sourcing at the start and disposal at the end) and linking them together into a closed loop. The materials in end-of-life products can be extracted and used as resource inputs to make new products, like beautiful artwork.

For example, during the Waste Expo session “Trash is Treasure,” speakers Billy Dufala (Recycled Artist in Residency, or RAIR) and Fern Gookin (Revolution Recovery) revealed a surprising and beneficial relationship between waste and art. Through their partnership, Dufala and Gookin give artists free access to discarded materials from construction and demolition sites. Rather than add to the landfill and the demand for new materials, the waste is used to support art projects.

It’s true: one person’s trash can be another person’s treasure. This organization’s work highlights the potential of waste and how art can inspire others to think more deeply about waste’s impact on our world. Consider the second life your discarded materials can have!

“Scope 3 emissions are defined as emissions caused by indirect impacts from your waste.” Image taken from “Scope 3 Emissions: How the Waste Industry Can Help Companies Achieve Emission Goals.”

#2 – Manufacturing Products for Continuous Use 

The “Scope 3 Emissions” session highlighted the importance of design, organization and right-sizing products. One story about a sports tournament especially kicked up intrigue.

At the tournament, reusable cups were made of polypropylene that could be cleaned, sanitized and used again. The cups had a color that matched the clearly labeled bins that were scattered around the event space. Even the bin liners were the same color as the cups to see that every step of the cycle was fulfilled.

A perfect marriage of circularity can be achieved through design and organization. Partner up with those whose values and goals align with yours!

#3 – Don’t Waste Opportunities

A theme across the Waste Expo talks was how much opportunity exists to be more sustainable. This was well exemplified during the “Technologies for Optimizing Organics Processing” session, a discussion centered on achieving carbon neutrality, with solar panels being a prominent topic among the four speakers.

During the final speaker’s presentation, it was noted how Alaska, a state known for its daylight patterns, isn’t taking complete advantage of solar farms to power its cities, like the other states and countries discussed.

Solar panels can help mitigate some of the nation’s highest energy costs and even allow people to sell excess solar energy back to the grid in exchange for credits. So, whether you’re under Alaska’s midnight sun or not, ask yourself: Are you seizing all the opportunities with your energy and waste?

“It’s surprising how many corporate and personal goals are set around increased recycling, but the explicit benefits aren’t that understood.” A slide from “Recoverable Materials: The Benefits and Potential Pitfalls on the Path to Circularity.”

#4 – Dethrone Convenience

Our decisions and behaviors are often based on convenience and situations. For example, at the “Recoverable Materials” session, speaker Bryan Staley (Environmental Research & Education Foundation) told a relatable story about a family vacation. When we’re at gas stations, we don’t see recycle bins. As passionate as we may be about being sustainable and recycling, we’re forced to have a car full of trash or put the items in the trash to go to the landfill.

As it relates to a business, some may find it logistically complex to access recycling facilities. Maybe the facilities are too far away and pushing forward could drive up costs and carbon emissions. This is why a proper waste analysis is critical. Maybe the solution is on the front end and not the back. Discover your path toward sustainability and efficiency, and don’t let convenience stay king.

#5 – Allow Sustainability to Steer

During a panel focused on how to utilize excess food and existing infrastructures and resources to address food waste and insecurity, LaToya Meaders (Collective Fare) spoke about how it’s important to look at things from a sustainability model and not so much from a profit margin.

“If you focus on creating a more sustainable restaurant model rather than driving profits, you can start to tackle other issues around food waste. You’ll find the clientele because they’ll want to be a part of something that’s much larger than them,” Meaders said.

#6 – Be Honest About Your Vision

During another panel about how to scale the reuse economy, Mike Newman (Returnity) spoke about the importance of honesty in our visions.

“We need to be very direct with ourselves. If we lose sight of that, that’s when a utopian vision comes up. [Companies] assume with some better marketing, [they’ll] get there. But the evidence doesn’t completely support that. We need to be open and honest about what works and what doesn’t to address the challenges productively.”

There are many factors to consider when handling waste, packaging materials and products, and what to communicate to consumers. Don’t be afraid to get the help you need to be more efficient!

If you found this information useful, be sure to follow Quest’s social media channels (LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook) to stay current with our articles and posts. And save the date for Waste Expo 2024 on May 6-9 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.

These days, every industry is full of unexpected turns. But, with new federal/state/local regulations and growing customer demands, how does one expect to keep tabs on it all while maintaining a profitable business?

Want to know something? Waste secretly runs our businesses – and partnering with a reputable and experienced service provider can ensure that the tasks are managed most efficiently and responsibly, keeping your company compliant with regulations, and taking the next step toward long-term sustainability initiatives.

Learn how you can map out the beats and strategies to cut through all the noise by reviewing three of the most common questions regarding the future of the waste and recycling industry!

Navigating the Unknown

Question 1: How can you confidently run your organization when economic uncertainty, government regulations and growing customer demands cloud the future?

Simply Put: Waste will always be generated despite the economic environment or customers’ demands. Therefore, business leaders must put sustainability strategies and data at the top of their priority list.

With such efforts from a partner, you can:

• See the bigger picture
• Identify patterns
• Find new opportunities
• Measure to manage better
• Craft the right sustainability story (to avoid greenwashing)

Your Next Move: With the right partner and accessible data, they can act as a savior when times are tight or uncertain. They can offer cushion and empower businesses like yours to make decisions with the necessary sense of familiarity and comfort.

Research has demonstrated that companies with robust sustainability strategies backed by data tend to be more resilient and fared better than those focused solely on profit maximization when navigating the unknown.

Consolidating Your Thinking

Question 2: Why should you trust one company to handle all your waste and recycling needs?

Simply Put: Focusing energy on scheduling, pickup times and what waste is going to what location are just added plates to what businesses are already spinning.

Organizations can benefit from hiring an outside source to deal with all waste matters, including:

• Peace of mind
• Eliminating need for specialty disposal equipment and training
• Satisfy federal waste regulations and avoid costly fines
• Skip the need for holding facilities

Your Next Move: No matter your industry-specific needs, experienced professionals can help businesses achieve the best outcome to reduce waste where possible and create the most efficient disposal system and allow room for future growth.

Embracing a Holistic Approach

Question 3: How does knowing the ins and outs of your business’ waste strengthen efficiency and help move the sustainability needle on a larger scale?

Simply put: Businesses can transform with a more holistic approach to waste and recycling initiatives. Thus, creates more adaptable operating/business models and contributes to system-wide change.

Your Next Move: With eyes set on the future, regulations will require mass recycling within the industry. Taking steps toward sustainability, no matter the size, and having a comprehensive view of operations backed by data can generate fruitful, profitable opportunities.

Small steps are being made worldwide but following suit with a similar ambition can bring about the right level of investment that is aligned by legislation and commitment from the industry.

About Us

Quest Resource Management Group (NASDAQ:QRHC) is a national provider of waste and recycling services that uses a 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.

Expect to see accelerated progress toward resolving some of the planet’s most vexing challenges and more organizations (like yours) to step up!

Fueled by rapidly changing regulatory and reporting standards and investor appetites for ESG performance, more products, services and supply chain practices are being developed with sustainability in mind. As a result, businesses are looking to improve their reputations and operational efficiencies while saving on waste, resource and energy consumption costs.

So, how should a company like yours think, plan and take action in 2023? Review the three key sustainability developments below and allow the information to guide those areas — including who you should partner up with to really put your operations on the right track.

Electric Vehicle Transition

What’s Going On: The world is clearly charging down the road toward electric vehicles, with some saying that EVs will represent two-thirds of global vehicles by 2040. However, there’s also been a lot of talk about the sustainability complications with EV batteries and whether manufacturers can supply enough of them when the world transitions. At the current rate, serious progress needs to happen – and fast – or we can anticipate raw material shortages to drag on.

What We’ve Learned: There have been some breakthroughs in the production process of EV batteries. Manufacturers, equipment suppliers and OEMs are looking at the technology used to extract and refine critical materials (cobalt, nickel and lithium) to unlock cost reduction and greatly improve performance and output – ultimately impacting the sustainability behind the entire process. This year, we should have a better idea of whether the next wave of technology, like direct lithium extraction and recycling techniques, will be effective solutions in the upcoming era of resource scarcity.

What’s Applicable: Sometimes, the issue is not always just the broken parts but the machine or system itself. Instead of hiring someone to correct the problem at hand, think more comprehensively and partner with a company that’s set on your organization’s operational efficiency. Having tabs on the ins and outs of your business (and the waste it produces) can be the ultimate move toward sustainability.

Green Industrial Revolution

What’s Going On: With the manufacturing industry responsible for nearly a quarter of carbon emissions and consuming 54% of the world’s energy sources, there’s an urgent need to address the challenges of decarbonization. New policy developments are pushing manufacturers to get serious about it with their operations and supply chains. Significant penalties are on the horizon. What company wants to have less money in their pocket and brand damage?

What We’ve Learned: It’s no surprise that more companies are recognizing the societal and financial value of reducing waste, conserving energy and decarbonizing their practices. In anticipation of further regulatory developments, companies are trying to stay ahead of the curve, invest wisely and create strong relationships and partnerships.

What’s Applicable: This calls attention to the importance of quality data and reporting. This is where the future is going, and you don’t want to be the business struggling to keep up but rather the one leading the charge. So, analyze your practices and strengthen your competitive advantage by working with a waste provider that knows what it takes to keep you compliant and efficient.

Sustainable Food

What’s Going On: In recent years, farmers, food suppliers and grocery stores have been affected by labor shortages, diseases and destructive weather. Have you noticed the availability of eggs in the supermarket lately? Plenty has occurred to speed up our search for solutions to our food problems and build more sustainable and resilient systems.

What We’ve Learned: We are seeing many exciting partnerships aimed at transforming the food system. People worldwide are going through similar struggles and are reaching out about sustainable production, open trade, and supporting international initiatives. (Look at DeHaat for inspiration in sustainable farming.) This growing recognition to make drastic changes to the status quo could lead to significant developments in 2023.

What’s Applicable: This response highlights the benefits of engagement and collaboration. Like any business relationship, you want to work with the people who align with your values, have your best interests at heart and are willing to have the conversations you need to survive and thrive during any obstacle.

Much is going on in the world, and change is constant. It’s a lot to keep up with, and it can create confusion on how one should adapt. Don’t hesitate to get the help you need, so you can focus on what you need.

– December 14, 2022 –

Compared to New Year’s Resolutions, there’s a certain practicality that comes with “past-year reviews.” They can be more informal, valuable and actionable – which is why we’re looking into the rearview.

Over the past year, we’ve checked different industries’ pulses and dug into hot topics such as ESG and economic turndowns. Use the below collection of waste and recycling information to inform your company’s 2023 planning and sustainability strategies.

How to Operate Successfully During Holiday Seasons/Business Upticks

3 ways your business’ waste streams can adapt, survive and thrive during holiday seasons.

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How Your Business Can Basket Waste Knowledge from EV Batteries

Electrical vehicles (and the lithium-ion batteries that power them) are creating sustainability concerns. See where your market fits into the conversation.

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How Sustainable Strategies/Data Could Prepare Your Business for Economic Downturns and Accelerate Out

The importance of prioritizing sustainability ahead of a recession.

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How to Avoid Greenwashing Worries with a Waste-Minded Sustainability Plan

Unpacking how businesses are inaccurately tracking/reporting their sustainability efforts and how a comprehensive assessment is key.

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How ESG Should Become a Top Priority

A 5-step formula to make sustainable, future-proof decisions, and your business might benefit from profitable opportunities.

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How the Organic Waste-to-Compost Journey Provides Valuable Insights Across Multiple Markets

Whether you work in the food industry or not, discover the wonders and benefits that a waste process like this can have on your business.

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How to Make Sense of the Most Common Waste & Recycling Terms

Ready for some sustainable alphabet soup? Sip from this industry dictionary (categorized by waste types and systems).

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How to Stay Off the Easy Button and Challenge the Status Quo

3 key perspectives you can have as a leader if you make challenging the status quo a staple of your business.

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How to Answer Customers’ Needs for Circular/Sustainable Solutions

With the right resources and commitment toward knowledge and data, your waste streams can take your business toward a sustainable (and profitable) future, keeping your customers’ needs in mind.

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How to Sort Truth from Trash: Waste Myths Debunked

Waste myths (like “a sustainable operation costs more”) will continue circulating. Break the cycle and establish a proper system that helps to process waste efficiently.

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How Small Sustainable New Year’s Resolutions Can Have a Big Impact

Rather than fall victim to the New Year’s resolution slump, these 3 simple steps can help your business reset and embark on a sustainable journey in 2023.

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