How Does Waste Diversion Save You Money?

Waste diversion is more than an environmental practice, it is a business strategy that can save your company significant revenue. By reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and finding ways to recycle and reuse materials, your business can lower costs and gain profit.

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TRANSPORTATION TO DISPOSAL COSTS

Transporting waste to recycling or landfill facilities can be expensive. Hauling costs can add up quickly, especially for businesses generating large amounts of waste. Reducing the amount of waste created at the source reduces the amount sent to a landfill, decreasing affiliated transportation costs. ​

MATERIAL COSTS​

Reducing materials costs: 
Increasing efficiency and understanding what materials will be used and what will be wasted is another way to save money through waste diversion, especially for construction and manufacturing businesses. For these businesses, purchasing, transporting, and handling materials that don’t end up being used can cost your company time and money. Appropriate organization of inventory and known needs will lower costs associated with purchasing excess materials and transporting materials to landfills that are never used. 

Buying in bulk:
After assessing what inventory is needed, another way to reduce waste is to buy materials in bulk. This often reduces costs and reduces packing materials associated with buying materials in smaller quantities, it can also reduce transportation costs of more frequent shipments.

REDUCE LOST REVENUE THROUGH REUSE

Lost revenue can be obtained from recycling or reusing materials instead of landfilling them. Examples include: 

• Reusing shipping containers and boxes 
• Using shredded paper as shipping padding
• Repurposing construction materials for future products
• Reusing materials to extend its lifespan and reduce purchasing costs​

MAKING SALES WITH MATERIALS

Holding onto materials and selling them can create an extra source of income within your business. Proper processing of used materials can have market values and can be sold for profit. Common recyclable materials for profit are concrete, metal, and wood.
 
Concrete: Concrete is always high in demand and can be repurposed by crushing and processing it. Its recycled form can be used to make new concrete products or gravel. 

Metals: Recyclable metals are typically separated into two categories: ferrous (containing iron) and non-ferrous (not containing iron). Aluminum and steel are the most easily recycled metals. Aluminum can be recycled into materials such as window frames and gutters. Steel can be repurposed into any steel product.

​Wood: Untreated wood can be processed, repurposed and sold into mulch or panel board. 
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Alternatively, properly sorting recyclables and selling them to recycling companies is another way your business can make money. An example is cardboard, which in commercial quantities, is profitable. Collecting, flattening, then selling cardboard for reuse is a great way to profit from a resource that would have otherwise been thrown out. Additionally, using machinery such as cardboard bales to organize and flatten cardboard reduces transportation costs associated with transporting large amounts of cardboard.

SUCCESSFUL STORIES

Many businesses have increased their waste diversion efforts, saved money, and reduced their environmental footprints.

Examples include: 

Kohls: Kohl’s has successful waste management strategies, and in 2020, diverted 85% of its U.S. operational waste from landfills. Focusing on reusable materials and repurposing, Kohls has been able to save time, money, and resources through waste diversion. 

Subaru: All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants, saving and making Subaru money by completely eliminating landfill disposal feels, selling materials instead of throwing them out, and using waste-to-energy incineration. Subaru also partners with TerraCycle to divert hard-to-recycle waste from landfills.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company: Dedicated to reducing waste diversion in their practices, Sierra Nevada consistently diverts 99.8% of their solid waste from landfills, through practices such as turning grain into livestock feed, aggressive composting systems, and organized recycling programs. They profit and also eliminate landfill and disposal costs associated with brewing. 
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Procter & Gamble: Procter & Gamble (P&G) reduces waste by designing product packaging with lighter, more recyclable materials, minimizing manufacturing waste sent to landfills, and using advanced recycling sorting technologies. These initiatives help the company lower landfill transportation expenses while reducing the cost of raw materials through improved resource efficiency.

OTHER NON-MONETARY BENEFITS

Some other benefits of waste diversion include the attraction of customers, improved corporate image, and increased employee morale. As climate change worsens, consumers are becoming more conscious about their choices and want to support companies that think sustainably. A report released by Northwind Climate and Ceres in 2025 discovered that 3 in 4 consumers actively or passively prefer sustainable products. Consumers are environmentally conscious and want to support companies which promote sustainability. 
Building a reputation of your companies’ dedication to sustainability and consumer preference will build corporate image and prove your companies’ dedication to the environment. 
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Promoting sustainability in the workplace can also build employee morale and trust. Employees that know they are working for an organization with shared values will feel more fulfilled in the workplace.

HOW WE CAN HELP

Waste Audits: WasteCap offers waste audits to determine how much waste your organization produces, where it comes from, and how costs can be reduced by diverting it. This is a great place to start in your waste diversion journey. Additionally, WasteCap offers additional services that can pair with an audit, such as the creation of a centralized waste management website to display what your organization has been working on and retain transparency for all customers, employees, and stakeholders. 

Green certifications: WasteCap is also experienced in assisting with various green certifications, including LEED© Living Building Challenge, STARS, and True Zero Waste. At WasteCap, we can help make sense of the complexities that come with green certifications and streamline them into a process that all parts of your organization can benefit from.

Data Collection, Results, and Analysis: Data collection and analysis is a vital part of understanding and reducing waste. WasteCap can help collect data, synthesize it, explain what the numbers mean, and continuously find ways for your organization to reduce waste, save money, and save resources.

Education & Outreach Services: WasteCap also offers education and outreach services, where tenants, employees, or students can be trained to adapt to new waste-reduction methods, answering questions and providing ongoing guidance along the way.