WHO WE ARE

Zero Waste Canada is a national nonprofit organization and the national affiliate of the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA), dedicated to furthering Zero Waste policies and practices at the community, business, and policymaking level.

As the national affiliate of the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA), Zero Waste Canada works from the bottom-up, engaging communities, businesses and government entities in the transition away from the linear economy, and end-of pipe remedies such as landfill and incineration, towards the circular/sharing economy, with front-end solutions under Zero Waste.

Our Mission

Zero Waste Canada works to further Zero Waste policies and practices at the community, business, and policymaking level.

Our mission is to support education, collaboration, and practical solutions that help communities and organizations move away from landfill and incineration and toward waste prevention, reuse, responsible resource management, and circular design.

What We Do

Zero Waste Canada supports Zero Waste progress through education, resources, certification, recognition, policy awareness, and community engagement.

Our work includes:

Education and training that helps individuals, professionals, teams, and organizations understand Zero Waste principles.

Certification and recognition programs that help facilities, events, construction projects, and organizations document and verify Zero Waste progress.

Resources and public awareness that support informed action and practical learning.

Policy and advocacy that promote waste prevention, circular systems, and alternatives to landfill and incineration.

Community and professional engagement that connects people and organizations working toward a world without waste.

Our Role in Canada

Zero Waste Canada provides a national platform for Zero Waste education, collaboration, and leadership.

We help connect people, organizations, and communities with tools, programs, and resources that support better decision-making around waste prevention, resource conservation, and circular systems.

Through our programs and partnerships, we support action at multiple levels, from individuals learning about Zero Waste to organizations working toward verified certification and recognition.

Our Connection to the Zero Waste International Alliance

As the national affiliate of the Zero Waste International Alliance, Zero Waste Canada’s work is aligned with internationally accepted Zero Waste principles.

ZWIA is a global network of organizations working toward a world without waste through public education, practical application of Zero Waste principles, and the development of standards for evaluating Zero Waste progress.

Through this connection, Zero Waste Canada helps advance Zero Waste education, certification, and recognition in Canada while supporting broader international principles focused on waste prevention, resource conservation, responsible material management, and circular systems.

The Zero Waste International Alliance

The Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA) is a network of international organizations from around the world, working from the bottom- up towards a world without waste through public education and practical applications of Zero Waste principles.

The Zero Waste International Alliance has been established to promote positive alternatives to landfill and incineration, operating at the local, national, and international levels, involving all sectors of society.

Through its network of national affiliates and partner organizations, the alliance:

• initiates and facilitates research and information sharing for the promotion of Zero Waste,
• builds capacity to effectively implement Zero Waste
• sets standards for evaluating the achievement of Zero Waste.

Please, visit the Our Policies page to learn more about what Zero Waste means to us.