Here’s what the cost of waste looks like:​

1. ~60% of the cost comes from buying materials (like raw goods or water) that end up being wasted instead of used in the final product.
2. ~20% of the cost comes from processing those materials (labor, energy, equipment, and time) before they are wasted.
3. ~10% of the cost goes toward waste prevention and environmental programs, such as training staff or meeting compliance requirements.
4. ~10% of the cost comes from the actual disposal of waste, including hauling, landfill, or recycling services.

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Less waste means lower costs, less risk, and a stronger brand. If you care about your bottom line and your impact, this is the place to start.

​Want to dig deeper into how to align this with long-term strategy?

When it comes to sustainability, many small businesses feel they need to have all the answers before getting started. In reality, the most impactful thing you can do is take the first step: begin tracking.

A sustainability business plan doesn’t need to be complex or costly. At its core, it’s about understanding your material flows, identifying inefficiencies, and taking measurable action. Whether you’re a coffee shop, boutique retailer, or construction firm, the path to sustainability begins with one simple shift: turning your waste into resources.

Start with what you already know. Create a list of materials your business uses regularly and answer the following questions for each:
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1. What is the material? (e.g., Cardboard, plastic wrap, aluminum cans, food scraps)
2. How much do you generate? (Estimate weight or volume per month.)
3. What happens to it? (e.g., Landfill, recycling, compost, reuse, salvage)
4. Who hauls it away? (Which waste hauler? Where does it go?)
5. What does it cost? (Disposal fees, hauling costs, rebates if applicable)

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➡️ Pro Tip: ​Standardize your metrics. For example, track Amount of Landfill / Unit of Product Sold (lb/$) or Amount of Recycling / Unit of Product Sold (lb/$). This helps normalize your data over time and gives you a better sense of progress as your business grows. Here is where you’ll start to understand part of the “cost” element of your waste.

Toyota’s North American parts operations switched from single-use cardboard and wood packaging to reusable shipping containers.

​The results were dramatic:
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• 27.93 pounds of waste eliminated per use
• Over $1 billion saved from 2002 to 2013

This change not only reduced landfill-bound materials, it streamlined Toyota’s logistics operations, reduced packaging costs, and supported a more circular supply chain.

In 2013, Kellogg’s Chicago 31st facility was sending up to 30 tons of trash to landfill each month, with a diversion rate below 50%.

Determined to improve, the site challenged its waste management team to identify better recycling methods and engaged all 300 employees in efforts to reduce the amount of waste generated.

The results were significant:
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• Achieved TRUE Gold certification
• Increased diversion rate to 95.5%
• Reduced waste management program costs by 80%
• Cut finished goods packaging size by 21%
• Focused on front-end waste reduction and reuse systems for transportation and storage

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This case shows how employee engagement and process redesign can drive both environmental and financial performance.

With tracking data in hand, you can set realistic, data-informed goals. Start small:
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• Reduce landfill waste by 20% in 6 months
• Eliminate all Styrofoam containers
• Divert all cardboard from trash
• Compost 100% of pre-consumer food waste

Tracking gives you the baseline. From there, it’s all about progress—and WasteCap is here to guide and support that journey.

Creating a sustainability business plan doesn’t require a ten-year strategy or an environmental science degree. It requires a willingness to look closely at what you’re throwing away and why.

Start simple. Start tracking.

Visit www.wastecap.org to learn more about audits, reporting tools, and support services.

Ready to talk about your specific business needs? Fill out our quick interest form here. 
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Let’s turn waste into opportunity—together.

The Wisconsin Recycling Directory is an online search tool hosted by RecycleSearch, in partnership with the WI DNR, that helps you find where to recycle, donate, or safely dispose of specific materials in your area. It covers hundreds of facilities and drop-off sites across the state: from county programs and private haulers to specialty recyclers.

​It’s super easy to use, it's free and no account needed!

Using the directory keeps materials out of landfills, reduces contamination in your curbside bin, and supports local businesses that specialize in responsible recovery. It also helps you feel good about making the extra effort to do it right.
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Let’s stop letting confusion be the reason we send things to landfill. Bookmark the Wisconsin Recycling Directory, use it often, and share it with your friends.

​The Wisconsin Recycling Directory is one of the most practical, underused sustainability tools out there. It's free, fast, and surprisingly thorough. So next time you’re tempted to toss something, take 20 seconds and search to see if it can be recycled first, because if we all make better choices, even just a few times a year, it adds up and compounds over time.

If your building is pursuing LEED, TRUE, or other green building certifications, WasteCap is here to help. Whether you're designing a new facility or optimizing your existing operations, our team guides you through the entire certification process: from strategy and documentation to final submission.

We don’t just hand you a checklist. We roll up our sleeves and work alongside your team to make it happen.

At WasteCap, our certification support is grounded in hands-on experience. We’ve worked with contractors, architects, developers, and facilities managers across Wisconsin to certify buildings, job sites, and business operations using nationally recognized sustainability standards.

Some of the most common certifications we help with include:

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
​Recognizes high-performance buildings focused on energy use, water efficiency, material selection, and sustainable site development.

TRUE Zero Waste
Helps organizations divert at least 90% of waste from landfills and incineration by rethinking systems and streamlining operations.

STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System)
Designed for colleges and universities, STARS provides a transparent, self-reporting framework for measuring sustainability performance across academics, operations, and engagement.

Getting certified isn’t just about checking boxes. It’s a powerful way to reduce environmental impact, cut operational costs, and demonstrate your organization’s commitment to sustainability.

Here are just a few of the benefits:

• Cost savings from reduced energy, water, and waste
• Increased asset value and potential tax benefits
• Improved employee and tenant satisfaction
• Recognition and marketability to clients, partners, and investors
• Compliance support for ESG, municipal, or grant reporting

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Because WasteCap is a nonprofit, working with us may also qualify as a tax-deductible professional service expense—making certification support not only impactful, but affordable.

We tailor every engagement based on your building’s size, type, and goals. Our process usually follows four key phases:

1. Initial Consultation
   We assess your current operations, review any existing documentation, and identify the right certification pathway.
2. Goal Setting & Roadmapping
   Next, we outline a clear action plan, assign roles, and establish timelines to ensure every requirement is met.
3. Implementation & Support
   We help you make the necessary changes—whether that’s sourcing recycled content materials, training your staff, updating signage, or reworking your waste stream.
4. Site Audits
   From construction walkthroughs to waste audits, we show up where it counts. Our team conducts in-person visits to track progress, troubleshoot challenges, and work directly with your staff, because real change happens on-site, not just on paper.
5. Tracking & Submission
   Finally, we handle the reporting, documentation, and submission process. We also help you create easy-to-understand visuals and summaries to share with stakeholders.

Whether you're starting from scratch or picking up where another team left off, WasteCap brings the knowledge, tools, and accountability to help you succeed. With a focus on practical strategies and measurable outcomes, we make the certification process simpler, more transparent, and more rewarding.

Visit wastecap.org to learn more about our services or submit a project inquiry form. Let’s build something better together.

​Not every organization has a sustainability manager or a full-time team. Lack of internal staff capacity is one of the most cited reasons for inaction, but it does not have to be a dealbreaker. Today, there are more tools and external resources than ever before designed specifically to support sustainability with limited internal capacity. From waste tracking apps to AI-powered reporting to virtual training programs, a lot of the heavy lifting can now be outsourced or automated. The problem is not that the tools do not exist. It is that many people still do not know they are available or how to access them.
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At WasteCap, we regularly work with organizations that have no internal sustainability staff. We help them design custom programs, conduct waste audits, write signage, and interpret data. That kind of external support can be the difference between a stalled-out effort and a successful one. Plus, with new technologies becoming more affordable and user-friendly, even small teams can manage meaningful progress. You do not have to do everything. You just have to be willing to ask for help, use the tools that already exist, and start with one area at a time.

It is easy to get frustrated when systems are in place, but people do not follow them. Whether it is someone tossing recyclables in the trash or misusing a compost bin, behavior change is one of the hardest parts of implementing sustainable practices. People have habits, and habits are hard to break. This is especially true in shared spaces, like offices, schools, or apartment buildings, where there is not always accountability or ownership over the outcome, but people do change. They need clarity, consistency, and a reason to care. Clear signage, smart bin placement, ongoing reminders, and positive reinforcement can go a long way. Making the sustainable choice the easier one is key. If composting requires a long walk or confusing steps, most people will skip it, but if it is convenient and intuitive, participation goes up. Cultural change takes time, but it is possible. When people feel part of something bigger and see their efforts making a difference, they usually want to keep doing it.

WasteCap can support your team with employee engagement and buy-in. We offer workshops to educate staff on sustainability goals, strategies, and their role in the process. From one-time trainings to ongoing support, we help build a culture where sustainable practices stick.

Sustainability can feel overwhelming. There is so much to consider (waste, energy, water, emissions, transportation, purchasing, packaging) that it can be hard to know where to even begin. This leads a lot of organizations to freeze. The fear of doing it “wrong” stops them from doing anything at all, but sustainability does not require perfection or a ten-year strategic plan on day one. It just requires a starting point.

The best thing you can do is begin with what is most visible or most urgent. If your dumpsters are overflowing, start with waste. If your energy bills are through the roof, start with lighting or HVAC. Choose one area, assess where things stand, and identify one or two simple improvements. That first step will provide insight, data, and momentum. From there, the rest starts to come into focus. You do not need to have all the answers to get started. You just need to start.

At WasteCap, we suggest beginning by tracking a few key metrics, nothing fancy, even a simple Excel sheet works. Start today. If you're unsure where to begin or what to track, we can help you set it up. That’s what we’re here for: guiding you through the first step so you can build from there.

Every organization hits barriers, but what matters is how you respond to them. We do not have to choose between sustainability and practicality. With the right approach, they can go hand in hand. It is not about being perfect. It is about doing better, one decision at a time.
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The truth is none of these barriers are permanent. What feels impossible today often becomes second nature tomorrow. Whether it is a lack of money, time, tools, leadership support, or clarity, it can be solved. The worst thing we can do is wait, because when it comes to sustainability, the longer we wait, the more we lose.