Zero Waste Certifications + Cheat Sheet
Understanding the differences between leading zero waste certifications can help your organization choose the right path toward waste reduction and sustainability goals. This quick-reference guide compares four major programs: TRUE (USGBC/GBCI), NSF International, UL, and SCS Global Services, outlining their minimum diversion rates, recognition levels, cost, renewal timelines, and approach to waste-to-energy.
Whether you’re seeking comprehensive systems like TRUE or streamlined verifications like SCS, this cheat sheet simplifies complex certification criteria into one clear, side-by-side resource for sustainability professionals. Download the cheat sheet here and included information below.
TRUE Zero Waste Certification (US Green Building Council/ Green Business Certification Inc.)
The United States Green Building Council’s Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) certification is a comprehensive system approach. There are several minimum requirements, and facilities are rated on the amount of impact they have upstream, downstream, and outward into their community. TRUE can be applied to singular or grouped facilities but may be difficult for tenant situations and field operations. Projects need to meet 6 prerequisites, one of which is a minimum 90% diversion rate, and a minimum 31 points of an extensive menu of options. Silver, Gold and Platinum labels can be achieved if more points can be met. TRUE allows for source reduction and reuse to count as diversion, waste to energy is not counted as diversion, and hazardous waste is not considered by the system unless efforts are made to reduce or recycle it. The menu-based system provides flexibility as well as a toolkit of measures proven to improve business efficiency. TRUE fees can range from $4,000 to $40,000 or more and are based on the size, location, and quantity of facilities pursuing certification. Documentation requirements are extensive, usually requiring an outside consultant or specially trained staff to execute. Each credit must be proven during an on-site review. The facility will get one opportunity to provide additional information, correct minor errors or clarify documentation after the first review before the review team awards or denies the certification. Maintenance of the certification requires the project team to submit annual diversion data, and recertification at a reduced cost every 3 years.
NSF International - Landfill Free Verification
The NSF Landfill-Free Verification recognizes companies and facilities sending less than 1% of their waste to landfill and less than 50% to energy recovery (waste to energy facilities). Companies wishing to use the NSF “Zero Waste” mark on their products must have less than 10% waste to energy. The area(s) defined by the certification are up to the client, as long as discard quantities can be tracked for the combined areas. The program requires some prerequisites beyond diversion rate tracking, such as twice-annual waste audits and specific recycling requirements for e-waste. Program pricing ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 plus travel costs for the initial certification and is based on a multitude of factors. Quarterly documentation is required to maintain an annual renewal. Renewal costs are lower than initial audits and do not require travel unless deemed necessary by NSF.
UL EV2799_3 Environment and Zero Waste Validation
The UL validation is one of the industry's first standards for zero waste and waste diversion claims and has an extensive and clear framework for certification of facilities, events, tenancy, and field operations. There are no prerequisites, but projects must meet a minimum of 89.5% diversion to achieve a silver (89.5-94.5%) label, with gold (94.5-99.5%) and platinum (99.5%+) possible. Reduction, waste to energy (WTE), and recycling residuals that go on to secondary recovery are considered diverted. There is no limit on the use of WTE. Hazardous waste is not considered by the certification. This program pricing ranges from $10,000 to $15,000 and is based on a multitude of factors. A self-declared compliance route is available. There is no renewal period, zero waste statements are only valid for the certified time frame - a company can “renew” by certifying their facilities again for a new time period.
Zero Waste Facility Certification (SCS Global Services)
The SCS Global Service zero waste certification seeks to recognize facility operators for waste diversion practices and environmentally friendly waste management efforts that exceed the norm. SCS will recognize any facility achieving more than 50% waste diversion, and their system allows for tenant space certification and estimations of weights or volumes of waste that might be shared with other companies in one facility. The program has a few prerequisites such as “can’t be violating waste handling laws,” and has two labels. The SCS Zero Waste Program label applies to facilities with >50% diversion, while the SCS Zero Waste label applies to facilities with more than 99% diversion. Secondary residual processing and hazardous waste processing that involves reuse, recycling or energy recovery can be included in diversion calculations. SCS considers waste to energy as diversion up to 25% of the total in most cases, and up to 50% where no alternatives exist within a reasonable distance. Re-assessment occurs on a yearly basis, with on-site audits required once every three years. Pricing ranges from $2,000 to $4,000, depending on the size, location and number of certifying facilities. Recertification without a site visit is reduced by $1,000.
Whether you’re seeking comprehensive systems like TRUE or streamlined verifications like SCS, this cheat sheet simplifies complex certification criteria into one clear, side-by-side resource for sustainability professionals. Download the cheat sheet here and included information below.
TRUE Zero Waste Certification (US Green Building Council/ Green Business Certification Inc.)
The United States Green Building Council’s Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) certification is a comprehensive system approach. There are several minimum requirements, and facilities are rated on the amount of impact they have upstream, downstream, and outward into their community. TRUE can be applied to singular or grouped facilities but may be difficult for tenant situations and field operations. Projects need to meet 6 prerequisites, one of which is a minimum 90% diversion rate, and a minimum 31 points of an extensive menu of options. Silver, Gold and Platinum labels can be achieved if more points can be met. TRUE allows for source reduction and reuse to count as diversion, waste to energy is not counted as diversion, and hazardous waste is not considered by the system unless efforts are made to reduce or recycle it. The menu-based system provides flexibility as well as a toolkit of measures proven to improve business efficiency. TRUE fees can range from $4,000 to $40,000 or more and are based on the size, location, and quantity of facilities pursuing certification. Documentation requirements are extensive, usually requiring an outside consultant or specially trained staff to execute. Each credit must be proven during an on-site review. The facility will get one opportunity to provide additional information, correct minor errors or clarify documentation after the first review before the review team awards or denies the certification. Maintenance of the certification requires the project team to submit annual diversion data, and recertification at a reduced cost every 3 years.
NSF International - Landfill Free Verification
The NSF Landfill-Free Verification recognizes companies and facilities sending less than 1% of their waste to landfill and less than 50% to energy recovery (waste to energy facilities). Companies wishing to use the NSF “Zero Waste” mark on their products must have less than 10% waste to energy. The area(s) defined by the certification are up to the client, as long as discard quantities can be tracked for the combined areas. The program requires some prerequisites beyond diversion rate tracking, such as twice-annual waste audits and specific recycling requirements for e-waste. Program pricing ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 plus travel costs for the initial certification and is based on a multitude of factors. Quarterly documentation is required to maintain an annual renewal. Renewal costs are lower than initial audits and do not require travel unless deemed necessary by NSF.
UL EV2799_3 Environment and Zero Waste Validation
The UL validation is one of the industry's first standards for zero waste and waste diversion claims and has an extensive and clear framework for certification of facilities, events, tenancy, and field operations. There are no prerequisites, but projects must meet a minimum of 89.5% diversion to achieve a silver (89.5-94.5%) label, with gold (94.5-99.5%) and platinum (99.5%+) possible. Reduction, waste to energy (WTE), and recycling residuals that go on to secondary recovery are considered diverted. There is no limit on the use of WTE. Hazardous waste is not considered by the certification. This program pricing ranges from $10,000 to $15,000 and is based on a multitude of factors. A self-declared compliance route is available. There is no renewal period, zero waste statements are only valid for the certified time frame - a company can “renew” by certifying their facilities again for a new time period.
Zero Waste Facility Certification (SCS Global Services)
The SCS Global Service zero waste certification seeks to recognize facility operators for waste diversion practices and environmentally friendly waste management efforts that exceed the norm. SCS will recognize any facility achieving more than 50% waste diversion, and their system allows for tenant space certification and estimations of weights or volumes of waste that might be shared with other companies in one facility. The program has a few prerequisites such as “can’t be violating waste handling laws,” and has two labels. The SCS Zero Waste Program label applies to facilities with >50% diversion, while the SCS Zero Waste label applies to facilities with more than 99% diversion. Secondary residual processing and hazardous waste processing that involves reuse, recycling or energy recovery can be included in diversion calculations. SCS considers waste to energy as diversion up to 25% of the total in most cases, and up to 50% where no alternatives exist within a reasonable distance. Re-assessment occurs on a yearly basis, with on-site audits required once every three years. Pricing ranges from $2,000 to $4,000, depending on the size, location and number of certifying facilities. Recertification without a site visit is reduced by $1,000.
