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Resource Spotlight

EPA’s WasteWise Program

WasteWise helps organizations and businesses reduce waste and practice through the prevention and recycling of municipal solid waste (common household and business waste) and select industrial materials. Launched in 1994, WasteWise has become a mainstay in environmental stewardship and continues to evolve to address tomorrow’s environmental needs.

Organizations can join WasteWise as a partner, endorser or both. Partners demonstrate how they reduce waste, practice environmental stewardship, and incorporate sustainable materials management into their waste-handling processes. Endorsers promote enrollment in WasteWise as part of a comprehensive approach to help their stakeholders realize the economic benefits to reducing waste. All U.S. businesses, local governments and non-profit organizations can join WasteWise. WasteWise partners range from small local governments and nonprofit organizations to large, multinational corporations.

The engages state and local government agencies, trade associations, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to help educate their members and constituents about the benefits of reducing solid waste.

Benefits of Joining

By joining the WasteWise program, partners or endorsers receive:

• The opportunity to receive WasteWise Awards that recognize outstanding achievements

• Public recognition in , case studies, meetings and a Web site listing

• An describing greenhouse gas reduction

• Reduced purchasing and waste disposal costs

Reporting

The is a data management and reporting system for WasteWise partners to collect, organize, analyze and report their municipal solid waste information. WasteWise partners may log into the WasteWise Data Management System to view and edit organization information, track waste reduction activities, and generate summary reports, including the WasteWise Climate Profile report.

Resources Available

WasteWise partners can use the resources below to develop and sustain a waste reduction program:

• : Tools and recommendations for planning an effective waste reduction program.

• : Data sources and calculators to determine the environmental and economic benefits of your waste reduction program.

• : Baseline (for new partners) and annual (for all partners) data reporting forms, instructions and sample forms.

• : Sample press releases, articles and WasteWise logo guidelines.

• : Free, tailored technical assistance from the information specialists at the WasteWise Helpline. Answers to questions frequently asked of the Helpline.

Technical assistance resources for the development and implementation of organizational solid waste reduction programs include:

• : Contains forms, the Online Resource Directory, industry sector pages, success stories and annual reports.

• : Contains additional resources, organized by industry sector.

• : Provides background information, sample waste prevention goals and results, and links for more information.

• : Provides background information, sample recycling goals and results, and links for more information.

• : Provides background information, sample buy/manufacture recycled goals and results, and links for more information.

• : Find new waste reduction ideas in WasteWise’s technical assistance periodical.

• :Offers resources about waste prevention, recycling, recycled products and other environmental information.

For more information, visit . To join WasteWise as a partner, register at . To join WasteWise as an endorser, register at .