Zero-Waste-Business-Institution-Planning-Toolkit-b.xlsx

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1		Zero Waste USA Business and Institution Planning Toolkit (updated 2023)	Links:
2		Zero Waste USA business and institution tools are designed for use during Zero Waste planning and are available to anyone. Zero Waste USA board members and instructors teach students how to use the tools during the Zero Waste Associate Course and the Zero Waste Business Class. See Zero Waste USA's upcoming classes page for more information. The tools are listed in order of use and complexity. The information gleaned from these tools helps the user understand the current situation in the business or institution, the diversion voids, and leads the user to initiative recommendations.
3		Tool Directions
4	1	Business and Institution Planning Checklist Directions
5		The Checklist is an inventory of the current policies, programs, and infrastructure initiatives related to Zero Waste for the business or institution being analyzed. It can also serve as a "wish list" for the business or institution (i.e., highlight the desired initiatives to be included in the Zero Waste plan).
6		Directions: To use the checklist, place a Y in the column to the left of the initiative (policy, program, or infrastructure) implemented in your business or institution, and a Z in the column to the left of the initiative that is desired for the Zero Waste Plan. Alternatively, highlight initiatives desired to be included in the Zero Waste plan. Initiative in blue are also part of the TRUE rating system. See link to the right.	TRUE Rating System Updated October 2022
7		If a team works on the checklist together or the user wishes to make a note, consider using New Comment or New Note in Excel or Comment in Google Sheets to communicate ideas or thoughts about the initiatives. Right-click on the initiative, then click on New Note or Comment.
8		The initiatives that aren't currently initiated in your business or institution are a void and can be considered for the Zero Waste plan.
9	2	Service Analysis
10		The Service Analysis is a tool that identifies if a service can divert materials from destructive disposal (landfill or incineration) based on the Nine Points of Generation in Businesses and Institutions. This tool identifies if the material is getting diverted and the type of service that diverts it. It is considered a void if no service is available to divert the material from destructive disposal.
11		Directions: Use this tool to identify if the diversion services for the materials within the Nine Points of Generation. In column C, use the drop-down list to click on yes, no, or unsure to this question: Does this material have a service to divert it from destructive disposal? Next, in column D, use the drop-down menu to identify the type of service (i.e., Reuse On Site, Reuse-Vendor, Recycling Service, Compost On Site, Compost Service, Special Service, or Void - No Service). Use column E to give details about the service (i.e., paper is placed in our single-stream recycling bin, durable foodware is washed on site, or a special permit handles motor oil). If the Service Code, Void - No Service, is chosen, use column F to explain further.
12	3	Generation and Diversion
13		The Generation and Diversion tool shows the business or institutions generation of materials for the base year, the diversion by type, and total. These baseline measurements are needed when beginning the Zero Waste planning process. Future initiatives will be compared against these baseline data.
14		Directions: Enter number of employees (FTE - full time equivalent), diversion, and disposal data in the light red cells. The other cells populate automatically. Enter the sources of the data at the bottom of the table. Below the table, the formulas for calculating diversion and pounds per employee per year are illustrated.
15	4	TPEPY
16		The Tons Per Employee Per Year (TPEPY) tool allows you to estimate the composition of trash, recycling, and organics using data downloaded from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery characterization studies based on business groups.
17		Directions: To use this tool for your business, you will need to know or estimate the employment total and business type. https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/WasteCharacterization/BusinessGroupCalculator You can download the results into an Excel document and copy over the results into the shaded area of the sheet in order to create a summary waste composition pie chart.	Business Group Waste Stream Calculator
18	5	Right-Sizing Tool
19		Most businesses and institutions subscribe to more trash collection service than they need. "Right-sizing" means changing the collection volumes and/or frequencies based on auditing the levels of trash. Use the tool to "right-size" trash, recycling, and compost collection at your business.
20		Directions: Use this tool to "right-size" trash, recycling, and compost collection at your business. Enter the current costs for trash collection in the rate table and the current service levels for each trash bin. Based on an audit of trash volumes, adjust the volume and frequencies of trash collection to estimate potential diversion rates and cost savings.
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35	Zero Waste USA tools are updated annually
36	Last updated 2023
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