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

Circular inventory systems for reusable infrastructure further support zero-waste goals. —Zoryana Zagorodnya, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

The lodge was built with a zero-waste, zero-plastic ethos, and while there’s Wi-Fi, this is a place designed for deep connection with the land, not just the signal. —Melanie Van Zyl, AFAR Media, 16 June 2025

The Italian eatery also boasts a zero-waste kitchen to craft up its handmade pizzas, pastas and locally sourced vegetables from area farmers’ markets. —Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 5 June 2025

There is even a zero-waste cruise ship being developed in Japan. —Lea Lane, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025

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