Ideas without action are simply food-for-thought. In contrast, the Zero Waste Movement was developed to achieve change — to transform solid waste management into resource management and conservation.

It is this opportunity - to dramatically and positively affect our environment - that brings together groups of people willing to put their energy toward ending wastefulness. And there are a variety of means to move us along the path.

Some zero waste advocates believe the ultimate zero waste solution is an "eco-park" — an industrial location where businesses utilize waste as a critical component in production, and others collect and disseminate used materials as new feedstocks; while in other models, area residents and businesses bring their unwanted items to a single location for disassembly, processing, and redistribution. Some zero waste advocates suggest that this facility could occupy one large location in a heavily populated area, while less populated areas might have smaller facilities distributed throughout a community or region.

In addition, zero waste advocates urge communities to develop “new rules for a new world.” This includes supporting local, regional, and national legislation that holds manufacturers responsible for the end-life of the products they produce.

Concepts such as product stewardship, advance disposal fees, bans on the landfilling of specific products to influence market development, and pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) collection systems which create financial incentives for diverting materials from a landfill are all critical components of a zero waste system.

In addition, they each address the fact that zero waste DOES NOT mean that everything simply gets recycled! A zero waste system is a comprehensive, new means to addressing waste production that incorporates waste reduction as a primary motivation rather than a secondary consideration.

From coffee break and classroom discussions to conference workshops and environmental organizations actively promoting zero waste, there are numerous opportunities for individuals to get involved in this movement. While each group may approach the goal with a slightly different philosophy, together their efforts are changing the way discarded materials are viewed and handled.