ZERO
WASTE
ZERO WASTE CERTIFICATION
What is SCS Zero Waste Certification?
Companies around the world are implementing
environmental and economic practices to improve
operations, increase revenue, and lower their
environmental impact. They are then turning to
sustainability certifications such as Zero Waste to
communicate these beneficial changes, build upon
their environmental, social and governance (ESG) brand
equity and improve their corporate responsibility
profiles. Certification can be used to communicate an
organization’s journey towards eliminating landfill-
bound waste generation at its facilities. To help
companies communicate how they reduce, recycle
and re-use their waste, the SCS Zero Waste Standard
provides 3rd-party assurance for waste diversion at
the facility level. The annual assessment captures the
amount of waste diverted from landfill as a percentage
of total waste generated.
TM
100% Waste Diversion
Achieved.
CERTIFIED
by SCS Global Services
What makes the SCS Zero Waste
Certification different?
Based on the SCS Zero Waste Certification Standard, SCS’
Zero Waste Certification harmonizes business practicality
and certification integrity. The facility-by-facility
certification allows for on-site sampling, which reduces
the cost of certification while maintaining the rigor of
the facility-level certification through document review.
The actual diversion percentage achieved at each facility
over a twelve-month period is certified and the claim
is reflected on the certificate. Facilities achieving 99%
diversion are certified as “Zero Waste”.
A key differentiator of the SCS Zero Waste Certification
is that a facility can be recognized under the standard
by demonstrating diversion of 50% waste or more, even
without achieving 99% diversion. This common-sense
approach allows the business to demonstrate progress
on their waste diversion goals.
This certification also allows for a diversion of hazardous
waste to count towards overall diversion, as well as
allowing for the use of waste-to-energy as a diversion
method, on a case-by-case basis.
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Steps to Certification
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Application Process and Onboarding Report Issuance and Corrective Action
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SCS scopes the company 2 to check that facilities 5
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Findings are disclosed to
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meet the minimum requirements for participation submits report to SCS for technical review.

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in the standard. If yes, then a work order is sent.
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Once signed, next steps1 3are discussed, and audit 1
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Company submits action plan and evidence to
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close non-conformities.4
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dates are set.
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Document Review
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Audit 3
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Certification
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Includes review of management program documents, Once non-conformities are closed and technical

documents
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diversion plan, waste diversion calculator, traceability
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4 such as invoices,
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review is complete, SCS will issue a certificate
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thereby certifying the diversion percentage
bills of lading, affidavits), and training plan. achievement of the facility. The exact waste
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diversion claim will be reflected on the certificate.

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Verification Audit
Includes interviews
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with7management, workers,
7Annual Verification Audit
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A recertification audit is later planned to cover
check of waste management infrastructure. the next 12-month period.
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For more information contact:

Vikas Ahuja7 7
Director of Sales and Marketing, Environmental Certification Services
+1.510.452.9090 direct
vahuja@scsglobalservices.com

www.scsglobalservices.com/services/zero-waste-certification

SCS Global Services 2000 Powell Street, Suite 600, Emeryville, CA 94608 USA | main +1.510.452.8000 | www.scsglobalservices.com