Waste management hierarchy places disposal in landfill as the last option signifying its extensive environmental concerns.
Landfills are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. In addition, landfills pose a great threat to site ecology, contaminates soil and groundwater, reduces land value and aesthetics. Landfill sites thus should have least preference by sustainable industry leaders with an aim to maximize the waste diversion to better management approach.
SGS has introduced Zero Waste to Landfill verification as a solution to assist committed industries to demonstrate their efforts and achievement in optimizing sustainable waste management by minimizing waste sent to landfills. Zero Waste Concept is the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, recycling, and recovery of products, packaging and materials. Implementing zero waste requires switching from waste management via landfills to a value-added resource recovery system, ensuring material is favorably put back into nature or market.
The SGS Zero Waste to Landfill Standard can be applied to any organization to verify percentage of waste diverted from landfill through recycling, reuse, or recovery. The standard provides two scopes, either site boundaries covering verification within organization’s boundaries which are limited to their factories or site and waste treatment facilities boundaries covering organization boundaries as well as waste operators in charge of disposing, re-using or recycling their waste. The verification process takes in 5 main steps:
- Desktop review of requested data and risk analysis
- Data verification through site visit, inventory verification and traceability of waste
- Issue findings
- Technical review of complete process by independent SGS reviewer
- Reports and verification statement with Mark
The SGS Zero Waste to Landfill standard is one of a series of waste solutions from SGS that will guide you toward your sustainability targets and demonstrates your commitment to the sustainable use of resources and will enhance your brand reputation.
With decades of experience as leading organization in inspection, verification, testing and certification SGS is once again at your service with benefits aligned to improve business, environment, and society.
About SGS
We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for sustainability, quality and integrity. Our 99,600 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.
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