This memo has been prepared to document ZWIA’s past and present in order to prepare for ZWIA’s future. Many individuals and organizations have contributed to the development of ZWIA, Zero Waste as a concept, and the promotion of Zero Waste programs and practices over the years. ZWIA contributes by recognizing Zero Waste organizations and leaders around the world and by curating and promoting the Internationally Peer-Reviewed Definition of Zero Waste and the Zero Waste Hierarchy.
Mission and Vision
ZWIA operates at the international, national and local level and involves all sectors of society.
Vision: A just world of vibrant, resilient, Zero Waste communities, in harmony with nature.
Mission: To work together as a global community to drive systemic change towards Zero Waste using environmental and social justice principles.
Zero Waste Definition and Hierarchy
One of the primary goals of organizing ZWIA in 2003 was to establish standards to guide the development of Zero Waste in the world. The Planning Group of the Zero Waste International Alliance adopted the first peer-reviewed internationally accepted definition of Zero Waste on November 29, 2004.
An updated definition of Zero Waste was adopted by the ZWIA Board on December 20, 2018. This restructuring of the definition aligns the definition to the guiding principles of the Zero Waste Hierarchy to create a globally accessible statement of meaning.
“Zero Waste: The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”
Last updated December 20th, 2018
The Zero Waste Hierarchy describes a progression of policies and strategies to support the Zero Waste system, from highest and best to lowest use of materials. It is designed to be applicable to all audiences, from policy-makers to industry and the individual. It aims to provide more depth to the internationally recognized 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle); to encourage policy, activity and investment at the top of the hierarchy; and to provide a guide for those who wish to develop systems or products that move us closer to Zero Waste. It enhances the Zero Waste definition by providing guidance for planning and a way to evaluate proposed solutions. Users are encouraged to develop policies and actions starting at the top of the hierarchy. The most recent updates to the Zero Waste Hierarchy were approved by the Board of Directors in 2025.
Zero Waste Declaration
In acknowledgment of the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day in 1970, ZWIA developed the Zero Waste Declaration which focuses on:
- Center Equity
- Redesign
- Ban Wasteful Products
- Make Producers Responsible for Problem Products
- Separate at the Source
- Rescue Food and Compost Organics
- Support and Expand Repair and Reuse
- Build Zero Waste Infrastructure
- End Welfare for Wasting
- Advocate and Adapt as Needed
Board and Advisors
ZWIA is overseen by its Board of Directors who meet regularly on the third Thursday of each month at 7AM Pacific Time/3PM GMT. Detailed Minutes are taken of each meeting, and a link to those Minutes are provided with the Agenda of the next meeting. The Agenda is sent to the ZWIAPlan Google Group, which includes all current and past ZWIA Board members.
Current Board members are:
- Richard Anthony, Chair
- Elena Mateo, Alianza Zero Waste Costa Rica
- Gary Liss, Zero Waste USA
- Jamie Kaminski, Zero Waste Canada
- Mahesh Nakarmi, HECAF 360, Nepal
- Neil Seldman, Recycling Cornucopia, United States
- Pål Mårtensson, Let’s Do it World, Sweden and Asia
- Rodrigo Sabatini, Instituto Lixo Zero Brasil
- Ruth Abbe, Zero Waste USA
- Sonia Mendoza, Mother Earth Foundation, Philippines
In addition to the Board of Directors, ZWIA maintains a group of Advisors who consist primarily of former Board members and colleagues. Board members and Advisors communicate regularly through the ZWIAPlan Google group.
Rules and Procedures
The Rules and Procedures for the Board of Directors were adopted in 2014 and updated in 2020. The Rules describe the membership of the Board and the process for filling vacancies, the work of the Board, and the process for recognizing National Affiliates for Certification and Recognition and Organizational Affiliates.
Affiliation and Collaboration
A standing committee of the Board is the Affiliation Committee (which meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 7AM Pacific Time 3PM GMT). The Affiliation Committee reviews applications for National Affiliates and Organizational Affiliates and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors.
There are currently nine National Affiliates for Certification and Recognition:
- Alianza Zero Waste Costa Rica
- Alianza Basura Cero Uruguay
- Fundación Héroes del Medio Ambiente, Dominican Republic
- HECAF360, Nepal
- Instituto Lixo Zero Brasil
- Movimiento Basura Cero Argentina
- Zero Waste Canada
- Zero Waste Network Aotearoa, New Zealand
- Zero Waste USA
National Affiliates are approved by the Board of Directors and have committed to align their certification and recognition programs to those of ZWIA.
There are currently 67 Organizational Affiliates who have objectives that align with those of ZWIA and have been approved by the Board of Directors.
Organizational Affiliates are encouraged to participate in the ZWIA Global Calls to share information about what is happening with ZWIA and with Zero Waste around the world on the third Monday of the month at 8AM Pacific Time/4PM GMT (password = ZeroWaste).
In 2024, the Board of Directors established a Friend of ZWIA designation for organizations and individuals whose objectives align with those of ZWIA, but are not non-profit, non-government organizations. Friends of ZWIA are added to the ZWIA Team (which includes ZWIA colleagues and Advisors).
ZWIA and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) have worked closely together, including since 2017:
- Updating the international peer-reviewed definition of Zero Waste
- Updating the Zero Waste Hierarchy 8.0 and most recently 8.1 which contains guiding principles of Zero Waste along with a catalogue of definitions (including “circular economy” and “chemical processing”)
- Creating the ZWIA Vision and Mission Statements
- Collaborating and sharing resources on Zero Waste Business and Community Recognition and Certification programs.
- Creating policy papers posted on the ZWIA website
ZWIA has also collaborated with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) on the TRUE Zero Waste Rating System and its predecessor program developed by the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council. Some ZWIA National Affiliates have coordinated with USGBC to provide options in their countries to pursue ZWIA-based certifications and TRUE Zero Waste certifications.
Certifications
Another standing committee of the Board is the Zero Waste Certifications Committee (which meets on the second Friday of each month at 8AM Pacific Time/4PM GMT). The Certification Committee oversees the certification and recognition standards, reviews applications for National Affiliates (as forwarded by the Affiliation Committee), provides mentoring to prospective applicants, and forms subcommittees to consider changes to the Zero Waste definition and hierarchy. The Zero Waste Certifications Committee also addresses Zero Waste Policies and Advocacy, and Education and Training Programs.
Conferences
The Conference Committee meets on an as-needed basis to review proposals for International Dialogs and ZWIA participation in Zero Waste Conferences. ZWIA has sponsored 12 International Dialogs and participated in numerous international conferences, including those sponsored by:
- California Resource Recovery Association
- Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
- Instituto Lixo Zero Brasil
- Just Do It Foundation
- Mother Earth Foundation, Philippines
- Northern California Recycling Association
- Race to Zero Waste
- Water and Waste Management International
- World Resources Forum
- Zero Waste Hong Kong
- Zero Waste Foundation, Türkiye
- Zero Waste San Diego
- Zero Waste USA
Fiscal Sponsor and Funding
The GrassRoots Recycling Network dba Zero Waste USA is the fiscal sponsor of ZWIA. Zero Waste USA is a 501c3 non-profit incorporated in California, USA. ZWIA has raised funds for International Dialogs from local governments, private companies, and non-profit organizations which are processed through Zero Waste USA. ZWIA receives in-kind donations from Zero Waste Canada and Zero Waste USA for hosting and maintaining the ZWIA website.
Considerations for Strategic Planning
ZWIA is a network of individuals and organizations from around the world. Its strength is in the energy and efforts of its partner organizations. When ZWIA was first organized, the organizers wanted to focus on building local organizations, rather than a large international organization. ZWIA has long worked collaboratively with GAIA and it is anticipated that both organizations will continue to collaborate on important issues.
For the past 2.5 years, ZWIA has engaged with staff of the United Nations, UN Environmental Programme, UN Habitat and representatives from the UN Zero Waste Advisory Board in support of the UN’s adoption of a resolution establishing March 30 as the International Day of Zero Waste in December 2022. ZWIA’s Chair, Richard Anthony, participated in the celebration in New York City of the launch of the International Day of Zero Waste on March 30, 2023. ZWIA provided content and speakers for the UN’s 2025 textiles webinar and has committed to providing case studies of “good Zero Waste practices” for a UN Zero Waste website.
ZWIA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Türkiye-based Zero Waste Foundation. In this MOU, ZWIA and the Zero Waste Foundation have committed to cooperate on projects to particularly support local Zero Waste policies and programs, develop training and toolkits, support pilot projects, and conduct joint research. Those who entered into MOUs with the Türkiye Zero Waste Foundation will work together to seek funding for projects of mutual interest.
More than two-thirds of the ZWIA Board attended the Global Zero Waste Forum organized by the Türkiye Zero Waste Foundation held on October 17-19, 2025 as follows:
- Richard Anthony, Chair
- Elena Mateo, Alianza Zero Waste Costa Rica
- Jamie Kaminski, Zero Waste Canada
- Mahesh Nakarmi, HECAF 360, Nepal
- Pål Mårtensson, Let’s Do it World, Sweden and Asia
- Rodrigo Sabatini, Instituto Lixo Zero Brasil
- Sonia Mendoza, Mother Earth Foundation, Philippines
Zero Waste USA was also represented there by Dennis Uyat. Zero Waste Colombia (a ZWIA Organizational Affiliate) and GAIA leaders from Zero Waste Europe and GAIA Asia Pacific also attended and spoke at the Global Zero Waste Forum.
ZWIA is in a unique position to provide subject matter expertise to the UN Zero Waste Advisory Board, UN Environmental Programme, UN Habitat, and the Türkiye Zero Waste Foundation.
As ZWIA looks forward to continuing its support of Zero Waste around the world, ZWIA should consider focusing on its key strengths: Zero Waste standards, certifications, education and training, collaboration, and networking and suggesting projects to pursue funding for with the Türkiye Zero Waste Foundation.