The Job Creation Potential of Zero Waste Solutions
The data is clear– zero waste creates over 200x as many jobs as landfills and incinerators! Let’s stop throwing away the chance to create thousands of good jobs. It’s time for our leaders to invest in solutions that work for us and our planet.
ZERO WASTE BUILDS HEALTHY LOCAL ECONOMIES
Cities that invest in zero waste programs and policies create good green jobs, reduce pollution, and improve community health.
What’s good for the environment is good for the economy
Studies show that zero waste strategies score highest on environmental benefits and create the most jobs of any waste management approach.
Zero waste systems not only create more jobs, they create better jobs
Jobs in zero waste go beyond basic manual labor, provide higher wages, offer more permanent positions and improve quality of life.
Cities are already on their way to zero waste
Cities and municipalities all over the world have implemented zero waste solutions with remarkable results, showing that any community anywhere can plan for zero waste as part of their COVID-19 economic recovery strategy.
Zero waste mitigates climate change
Landfilling and incineration are major climate polluters. Moving away from these outdated forms of waste management towards zero waste reduces emissions.
LESS WASTE = MORE JOBS
The data show that waste management approaches that have the best environmental outcomes also generate the most jobs.
Below are mean job generation figures for each waste management method per ten thousand tonnes of waste processed per year.
FEATURED RESOURCES
- The High Cost of Waste Incineration
- Zero Waste and Economic Recovery. The Job Creation Potential of Zero Waste Solutions
- An Inclusive Recovery. The Social, Environmental, & Economic Benefits of Partnering with Informal Recyclers
- Zero Waste Systems: Small Investment, Big Payoff
- Sustainable Finance for a Zero Waste Circular Economy