What we do : ZWZ Overview

In February 2009, the inaugural Zero Waste Zone (ZWZ) in Downtown Atlanta was announced at a press conference led by Stan Meiburg, Acting Regional Director US EPA Region IV. The ZWZ is the first such zone in the southeast and one of the first in the nation, and the media response to the conference and press release was tremendous. Regional and national expansion plans are under consideration to make the Atlanta project a template and spread its significant impact throughout the country.

Download the ZWZ Brochure to learn more about zone criteria, leadership and why a foodservice operator would participate in a zone.

Metro Atlanta has responded with enthusiasm to the Zero Waste Zone concept, and zones are launching throughout the metro area. Zones are formed either by territory or category of foodservice operation. Once a Zone Champion comes forth and an organization agrees to handle zone administration, a participants meeting is held to introduce foodservice operators to the ZWZ criteria. 

 

 

To join a ZWZ, a participant completes the ZWZ Pledge and has three months to meet ZWZ Criteria for Phase I, back of the house operations. Each zone has four phases of completion, broken down as follows:

• Phase I ~ Back of House Operations
• Phase II ~ Front of House Operations
• Phase III ~ Entire Property and Grounds
  

 

 

Each zone creates a Zone Team to recruit foodservice operators within the zone parameters and provide support and guidance to the pledged participants. The GFA maintains a supplier detail of companies who offer services to meet ZWZ Criteria. 

 

 

 

The foodservice participant is complete with ZWZ Criteria after Phase III. As each phase is completed, the participant submits a Pledge Completion Report.

Pledge Completion Report Phase I (212 KB)

Pledge Completion Report Phase II (213 KB)

Pledge Completion Report Phase III (212 KB)

 

 

 

Phase IV expands the zone to include general business, retail, mixed-use residential and common public areas. For more detailed information, go to the ZWZ Project Summary. 

 

 

The following Atlanta ZWZ are launched or scheduled to launch by the end of 2009:

With a strong network developed, future zones will be developed to transform other areas of foodservice operations. Cleaning, pest control and packaging are examples of focus areas when the ZWZ is expanded beyond eliminating products going to landfills.