HSR Zero Waste Wins National Clean50 Award for Innovative Waste Management System
TL;DR
HSR Zero Waste's award-winning system redesign gives organizations a competitive edge by achieving 75-90% waste diversion without major capital investment.
HSR's method combines waste assessments, operational redesign, staff training, and data-driven planning to systematically boost diversion rates from 50% to over 75%.
This project diverted over one million kilograms from landfills, creating a cleaner environment and demonstrating scalable solutions for sustainable community impact.
HSR transformed a facility's waste management by creatively reconfiguring existing equipment and workflows to achieve dramatic environmental improvements.
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HSR Zero Waste has received national recognition with the 2026 Clean50 Top Project Award for its Comprehensive Waste Management System Redesign and Implementation Project. The large-scale initiative demonstrated that high-traffic facilities can transition toward zero waste operations through operational redesign rather than relying on new infrastructure or major capital investment. This approach represents a significant shift in how organizations can achieve sustainability goals without substantial financial investment.
The project transformed a facility where waste diversion rates had previously plateaued at around 50 percent. HSR Zero Waste took control of all waste streams and implemented a comprehensive program combining operational redesign, data-driven planning, and on-site engagement. Key components included conducting in-depth waste composition and equipment assessments to identify efficiency gaps, delivering internal zero waste training for operations and events staff, reconfiguring waste flows, and reallocating existing equipment to optimize processing. This systematic approach allowed for significant improvements using existing resources.
A significant innovation was the launch of an on-site sorting system designed to recover value from materials previously treated as waste. The program achieved remarkable results, consistently boosting diversion rates to 75-90 percent. In 2024 alone, the project successfully diverted over one million kilograms of material from landfill and incineration, demonstrating substantial environmental impact. These results highlight the effectiveness of operational optimization in waste management systems.
What distinguishes this approach from many sustainability programs is its focus on operational change rather than infrastructure upgrades. The system was designed to integrate seamlessly into existing workflows, maintaining day-to-day continuity while improving efficiency. The program introduced clearer waste streams and contamination controls, which improved compliance and data accuracy across departments. Through consistent communication, on-site training, and responsive adjustments, the implementation occurred smoothly without disrupting normal operations.
The success extends beyond a single facility, as HSR's framework combining waste analytics, process design, and training has been documented as a replicable model for facilities across Canada. This includes event venues, institutions, and commercial sites looking to achieve similar sustainability outcomes. HSR Zero Waste continues to help organizations design, implement, and manage customized zero waste programs that deliver practical, scalable, and measurable results. More information about their approach is available at https://www.hsrzerowaste.com.
Curated from PR Karma
