zero-waste

adjective

ze·​ro-waste ˈzir-(ˌ)ō-wāst 

ˈzē-(ˌ)rō-ˈ

variants or zero waste

: generating little or no waste

a zero-waste event

zero-waste manufacturing

zero waste noun

The creative waste management strategy of "zero waste" is a combination of community and industrial responsibility that includes deconstruction in spite of demolition, composting to keep odorous organic waste out of landfills, recycling, and a screening facility to allow more separation and reuse of waste rather than incineration.

—Aimee Dolloff

Examples of zero-waste in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The flax cultivation is powered entirely by rainfall, and refined through a 100 percent mechanical extraction, zero-waste process. —Jennifer Bringle, Sourcing Journal, 23 Mar. 2026

The full lineup of films, more information about seminars, panels and workshops, as well as details about the festival’s zero-waste sustainability practices, can be found on the organization’s website. —Angelique Jackson, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026

Here, leopard tracking and guided rhino hikes go beyond the classic game drive, and creative zero-waste dining is just one of the many ways sustainability is woven into the stay. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Mar. 2026

The menus took inspiration from Arizona's southwestern flair as well as the zero-waste mindset of the Waste Management Open, according to Lauren Bircher, Associate Director of Special Events at M Culinary Concepts. —Eddie Fontanez, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for zero-waste

• aftertaste
• interfaced
• interlaced
• abased
• barefaced
• debased
• defaced
• disgraced
• displaced
• distaste
• effaced
• embraced