WE SUNSETED WASTECAP TRACE ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2021!
For 16 years WasteCap hosted an online tool to manage your waste diversion operation and gauge it's performance.  It focused on building a waste management plan that was effective and delineated clear responsibilities, tracking each waste material stream and providing insightful reporting for any time frame on multiple projects.  It was supported by the community for many years, and we'd like to thank everyone who contributed to making it a success.

See below: the impact of TRACE and information on transitioning your data.
​
THE IMPACT OF TRACE
Since 2005, TRACE has helped companies and individuals, in Wisconsin and beyond, to divert over 1 million tons of material from landfills and incinerators.

• Projects in Wisconsin averaged an 85.3% diversion rate! 
• Nationwide users averaged 73.1%.

Enough material was kept out of landfills to fill Lambeau Field to the top of the stadium 1.8 times, about 42% of an average Wisconsin landfill.  Finding better uses for that material effectively added a month and a half of life to each of Wisconsin's 53 landfills.  More importantly, getting this material back into the economy has saved:

• 961 thousand metric tons of CO2, the equivalent of keeping 12 thousand cars off the road every year since 2005.
• 20 thousand acres of habitat, including 1.8 million trees.
• A year's worth of drinking water for 800 thousand people.
• $35 million through reduced waste hauling fees.

On behalf of WasteCap I would like to personally thank those companies that supported TRACE over the years.  We could not have continued this long without your help.

TRANSITIONING YOUR DATA
​You will be able to access your data and run reports until September 17, 2021.  Before then, please choose the next step that best suits your needs:

• If you are using TRACE for a Wisconsin DFD project, you should have transitioned to WasteCap's new program hosted under ReTRAC Connect. If you haven't done so, please contact us at projects@wastecap.org, subject "DFD Transfer".
• If you are using Recycle 360, contact Stephan Berry at Stephen.Berry@wasteconnections.com for instructions, subject "Recycle360 Transfer".
• If you are an American Family Insurance user, contact Halie Tenor at htenor@amfam.com for instructions, subject "AmFam Transfer".
• If you use TRACE for any other purpose, and are interested in maintaining your data or transitioning to another program, you have options:
  • (a) Run reports on your projects prior to September 17th, 2021, and continue to track your waste data on your own.
  • (b) Work with WasteCap to transition your project history to ReTRAC Connect, taking advantage of new features and improved accessibility.
  • (c) Work with WasteCap to transfer your project history to a different third-party waste management program.
  • Contact us at projects@wastecap.org with the subject "TRACE Transfer" if you would like a quote for (b) or (c).

In Wisconsin, mountains of trash are cheap and easy to build.  Waste doesn't have to go far to find one.  Except for a few materials, there is little cost difference between landfilling and recycling. 

Efforts to divert waste from the landfill can be hard to justify based on disposal cost alone, so reduction is a key strategy for many.  Savings are almost always hundreds of times higher if a material isn't purchased in the first place.

Beyond direct costs, understanding the broader impact of wasteful practices can help a business or institution value the effects of its actions on its customers, community and supply chain.  There are tools and rules of thumb that can be used to estimate the greater economic and environmental impacts of your waste.  The EPA's WARM model estimates atmospheric impacts, energy savings and job creation trends.  At WasteCap we also like to note any water and habitat savings estimates that can be made as well.

Most of the companies that reach out to WasteCap already have a commitment to do better, be it for their shareholders, their employees, their community or their customers.  Sometimes they are just starting their journey to improve their diversion rate, others are seeking help with zero waste certification.  They all believe they are doing an great job, and it took them a leap of faith to ask for an outside opinion.  For that they were always rewarded.

Zero waste professionals like those at WasteCap are able to quickly cover basic principles and common sources of errors.  These initial cursory audits can reveal a lot in a short amount of time.  Once the gaps are identified, you can build up an appropriate response that delivers the best returns for your particular values.

Reducing waste isn't a quick or easy journey, but there are plenty of us here who can help.

On your own, every purchase you make and every piece of material you throw away makes a small impact on the resources wasted locally and around the world.

By working together we can move markets, create jobs, keep our communities healthy, and preserve the beauty of Wisconsin.

​Please consider WasteCap in ways large and small this season, and beyond, with these simple options.

All interested candidates should send a (1) cover letter and (2) resume by email or mail to:

​Rob Schaefer (Business Manager)
business@wastecap.org

WasteCap Resource Solutions, Inc.
2123 W. Michigan St. Suite 100
​Milwaukee, WI 53233