TRUE Home Zero Waste Audit Toolkit

Learn more about zero waste certification at true.gbci.org

Thank you for your commitment to

performing a TRUE At-Home Zero Waste
Audit. The goal is not only to evaluate what
is in our bins but, more importantly, how
we change our lifestyle and purchasing
choices to create a closed loop, circular
economy. The TRUE Rating System was
developed to achieve zero waste, closed
loop, circular facilities and businesses, but
many of the same principles can be
adapted to any home.

STEP 1: REVIEW YOUR SERVICES

Review the website of your municipal waste and recycling service providers and the acceptable
materials to be recycled and composted in your area (please note that each municipality has
different requirements). Research your providers’ services like hazardous waste pick-up/drop-off,
donation programs, and pricing incentives for composting and recycling. Reviewing this information
will provide a solid understanding of local opportunities to divert additional household waste from
the landfill.

STEP 2: INVOLVE YOUR HOUSEHOLD

If applicable, talk to any other members of your household about what materials go into each bin
(waste, recycling, compost, etc), encourage them to ensure recyclable items are clean and dry to
avoid contamination (and eliminate your recycling bin liner), discuss what recycled items will be
made back into (here are a few examples of closing the loop), and get them on board to help with
your ZERO waste audit.

STEP 3: CONDUCT A ZERO WASTE AUDIT

A typical waste audit aims to eliminate “contamination” by ensuring materials are in the right bin.
A zero waste audit takes this a few steps further with the goal of learning from our waste habits and
committing to behavior changes that decrease what we throw “away”. Zero waste audits emphasize
the following key actions: Refuse, Reduce, Return, Reuse (or donate), Repurpose, Repair, Recycle,
ReEarth (compost), and Recreate.
 OPTION 1: The night before your waste and recycling are
picked up, complete the below zero waste audit process.

SUPPLIES NEEDED
Gloves and masks Tarp (or trash bags)
Pencils and paper Blue tape and marker
Clipboard Service provider recycling and composting requirements

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Lay out three tarps or other protective material on a large surface and label them 1. “landfill”,
2. “recycling” or 3. “compost” (you can use blue tape and a marker, or make reusable labels for
your next waste audit!)
2. Empty your trash, recycling and composting bins onto the corresponding labeled tarp
3. Remove any contamination from each tarp (i.e., move all trash that was in your recycling bin to
the recycling tarp; all recycling in your compost to the recycling tarp and so on)
4. Arrange materials from each tarp (“landfill”, “recycling” and “compost”) into specific
sub-categories (i.e., All straws in one pile, all paper napkins in one pile) – use the data collection
form on the next page to document the materials you sorted.
5. Once all your materials are sorted, then have a discussion with your household and make
commitments on how you can: Refuse, Reduce, Return, Reuse (or donate), Repurpose, Repair,
Recycle, ReEarth (compost) and/or Recreate each individual category/item.

The ultimate goal is to eliminate your waste bins: trash, recycling and composting! We know this
is an aspirational goal, so don’t be afraid to take small steps towards reducing your impact.

SIMPLE ACTIONS TO REDUCE YOUR IMPACT

1. Use reusables: cloth napkins, rags, handkerchiefs, dishes, dryer balls instead of dryer sheets,
reusable cotton rounds for makeup, etc.
2. Clean naturally: you can make your own cleaners with baking soda, vinegar, citrus, etc. or you
can choose to buy naturally derived cleaning products with reduced packaging.
3. Shop locally: shopping at your farmers market supports local farmers, reduces packaging (bring
your own bags) and promotes a healthy lifestyle.
4. Buy less: if your zero waste audit shows that you are throwing away or composting food,
consider buying less of those items in the future.
5. Donate early and often:
a. For furnishing, clothing, art supplies, etc.: Go through your closets, cupboards, etc. every
couple of months and donate while items are still in good condition.
b. Food: Review your refrigerator and cupboards often so you can donate prior to expiration
dates. Going on vacation or moving? Plan ahead and donate.
c. Look for alternative places to donate: women’s shelters, churches, senior centers, your
friend or neighbor, social media (Nextdoor or Facebook Marketplace).
d. Check in with your local city, Salvation Army or American Red Cross and ask if there are
any ongoing needs for disaster survivors. There is always a lot of focus on disasters when
they are happening, the need often continues for months or years.
 OPTION 2: An alternative option to digging through your trash bags
is to THINK BEFORE YOUR THROW. Place the data sheet below next
to your bins and use it to document the materials in your waste
stream before you place them into your bins.

ZERO WASTE AUDIT – DATA COLLECTION

We encourage you to conduct a zero waste audit in your home regularly, we recommend somewhere
between monthly and bi-annually, to determine your progress toward a circular, closed loop home.

Date of Audit:
ITEM # COLLECTED APPROPRIATE BIN ZERO WASTE “R” ACTION

Ex: straws 10 Trash Refuse

Ex: paper napkins 30 Composting Reusable cloth

napkin
Ex: paper towels 15 Composting Reusable rags/towels

Ex: egg cartons 2 Paper (composting) Repurpose - make great art

projects; Reuse (donate to
a local chicken farmer or
farmers market)
ACCESS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ABOUT ZERO WASTE HOME AUDITS

TRUE Zero Waste Rating System Composting at Home

Cut Out Cutlery from your takeout orders Reusables are safe during COVID
EcoRise’s Waste Audit Lesson EPA Food Recovery Program

Remember that zero waste is a journey;

every small step you take can make a huge difference
in your local community, country and the world.

Follow TRUE on social to stay up-to-date with the latest zero waste news.

@truecertified TRUE Certification [email protected] @TRUECertification

Learn more about zero waste certification at true.gbci.org