The Zero Waste International Alliance updated its “zero waste hierarchy” to oppose chemical recycling and clarify circular economy definitions.
A new “Do No Harm” principle is introduced to protect communities from industrial hazards like explosions linked to plastics production.
The updated guidelines discourage incineration, making communities ineligible for certification if they develop new incinerators for 10% or more of their waste.
ZWIA’s stricter standards aim to pressure businesses and cities to abandon incineration and chemical processing for a true “zero waste” label.
The Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA) is tightening its influential sustainability standards, updating its “zero waste hierarchy” to push back against chemical recycling and clarify its definition of a circular economy. The update adds a new “Do No Harm” principle aimed at protecting communities from industrial hazards.
First, do no harm: The update introduces a “Do No Harm” principle and reinforces an existing one, “Do Not Export Harm.” The new guidelines “provide essential insights to address current issues, including chemical recycling and working toward a circular economy,” said ZWIA certification committee Chair Gary Liss. The principle targets tangible community risks, including explosions and other industrial hazards tied to plastics production.
Picking sides in the waste war: The changes stem from a growing concern over processes like pyrolysis, which use intense heat to break down plastics. According to a Waste Dive report, the new guidelines were needed to address gaps in previous rules that failed to emphasize the dangers of pyrolysis. The policy also solidifies the group’s preference for modern landfills over any form of incineration, making communities ineligible for certification if they develop new incinerators for 10% or more of their waste.
The bottom line: ZWIA’s move puts formal pressure on businesses and cities to abandon incineration and chemical processing, creating a clearer, stricter standard for what can truly be called “zero waste.”
The wider view: The move comes as other groups, like the Northeast Recycling Council, also formalize their positions on chemical recycling. Meanwhile, the U.S. EPA recently decided to maintain its classification of certain pyrolysis plants as waste combustors, part of a broader federal re-evaluation of waste frameworks that includes an updated hierarchy for wasted food.
