What is a Waste Audit?
A waste audit is an independent, data-driven review of everything leaving your facility, what it is, how much there is, how it’s collected, and what it costs. We measure stream composition and contamination, compare service levels to actual need, and translate the findings into clear fixes that raise diversion and reduce total program cost.
Why Every Business Benefits
A waste audit gives you objective data and practical fixes to lower total program cost, improve diversion, and standardize performance, whether you manage one site or a national portfolio.
Lower Total Program Cost
Eliminate unnecessary service and right-size containers and frequency.
Higher Diversion & Capture
Find recoverable materials and optimize setup, signage, and training.
Less Contamination & Fewer Fees
Pinpoint sources and apply targeted operational changes.
Compliance & Certifications
Align with LEED O+M and TRUE® readiness; produce clean metrics for ESG.
Cleaner, Safer Operations
Reduce overflow, dock congestion, pests, and odor; improve user experience.
Portfolio Consistency & Visibility
Standardized method and KPIs across locations for credible benchmarking.
Our Process
Step 1: Discover
Data intake, stakeholder mapping, and pre-visit planning.
What we request: We begin by requesting and gathering the data needed to start analysis and plan the site visit. This includes 12 months of waste and recycling records and invoices, current service schedules and container lists, contracts/fees, Certificates of Recycling/Destruction (e.g., shredding, electronics, metals, pallets, organics), floor plans/site maps, dock/bin-room photos (if available), occupancy/tenant counts, operating hours/seasonality, known pain points, and site safety requirements—plus a list of potential stakeholders.
Stakeholder questionnaire: Once this data is received, the CWS team prepares and sends a customized questionnaire to the identified stakeholders. The questionnaire clarifies each stakeholder’s role, where material is generated, how it moves through the facility, what’s currently captured, and how documentation is handled.
Why this matters: Responses shape our site plan and interview list so time on-site is as productive as possible for both teams. (If some records aren’t available, we’ll estimate from observed volumes and service history, then refine as data arrives.)
Step 2: Measure
On-site assessment: walk-through, interviews, behavior observation, and sampled sorts.
Detailed facility walk-through: We evaluate the current program end-to-end: internal set-up and workflows, waste generation areas, external equipment set-up and usage, container inventory and fill levels, signage/placement, and documentation methods.
Behavior observations & analysis: We observe how employees, visitors, and contractors interact with receptacles and move material through the space. These observations inform practical improvements to placement, signage, and education; key takeaways are included in the final report.
Stakeholder & employee interviews: We meet with stakeholders identified during Discover (e.g., janitorial, facilities, operations, maintenance, purchasing, IT, warehouse, shipping/receiving, café/food service, waste vendors). Interviews clarify responsibilities across purchasing, generation, handling/storage, disposal, and final collection/removal. Casual employee conversations help gauge program understanding and training needs.
Physical waste sort analysis: Depending on the audit level and objectives, we conduct either a full 24-hour waste window (often required for LEED or TRUE documentation) or a random, representative sampling tailored to your site. In each case, we inspect, sort, and quantify materials by area/floor and major component; every category is weighed and recorded, with photographs taken throughout the facility (except where prohibited). For traceability, whiteboards mark the floor/building/area for each sort, and we document both trash and recycling streams. The approach is confirmed with you during scoping to balance certification needs, accuracy, and on-site practicality.
Step 3: Analyze
Compile, quantify, benchmark, and model the baseline.
Data synthesis: We compile on-site measurements, observations, invoices/tonnage, and questionnaire responses into a structured dataset. We produce waste stream results by area, review current practices against best practice, calculate the baseline diversion rate, and run a cost analysis tied to your services, fees, and fill patterns (including right-sizing opportunities).
Market & compliance research: We conduct field research into local commodity outlets and partners and review state/local requirements that affect your program.
What the report shows: Clear charts and tables show what’s generated, what’s captured, where contamination and costs originate, and how service levels align with need—broken out by floor/building/campus where applicable. We also quantify the maximum diversion achievable under the current program and outline what would need to change (e.g., upstream purchasing/specs, new pathways) to exceed it.
Step 4: Act
Prioritized recommendations, partner pathways, and a practical roadmap.
Recommendations format: Each item is presented as Observation → Issue → Recommendation → Projected outcome, so owners can act quickly. Recommendations are grouped into quick wins, operational changes, and strategic upgrades.
Pathways & partners: Using our field research, we outline viable outlets and partners (e.g., MRFs, electronics/metal recyclers, landscaping and pallet composting, food composting, C&D centers, reuse/donation/resale facilities, farms) so solutions are ready to pursue.
What you receive: A comprehensive report with sections for introduction, generation & disposal, methodology, audit results, records review, observations & recommendations, and audit photos (with captions noting good practices and issues). Photos and calculations support findings, and the roadmap aligns improvements with your sustainability goals and any certification requirements.
What Makes Our Audits Different?
We don’t guess, we measure. CWS delivers targeted, customized, and cost-aware audits that turn data into practical program changes.
Targeted Audits
We don’t stop at “trash” vs. “recycling.” We physically sort into major components and break the data down by building, floor, or area, so you know exactly where to focus for added diversion and operational fixes.
Customizable Studies
Your audit is tailored to your goals. We build categories that align with your facility or company priorities (e.g., organics, specialty materials, packaging) to give you decision-grade data for sustainable purchasing and operational choices.
Cost Analysis & Right-Sizing
We pair findings with a cost review to reveal savings opportunities that are often overlooked—while also confirming avoided costs your program is already achieving. The result is a clear, defensible case for right-sizing service.
Comprehensive Report & Tiered Implementation
You get accurate, tangible data and practical recommendations organized into tiered implementation steps (quick wins, operational changes, strategic upgrades). It’s everything you need to move from insight to action.
Our Four Levels of Waste Audits
Pick the level that fits your goals. Every option is vendor-neutral, data-driven, and customized to your site(s).
Compare Levels At A Glance:
| BASIC | BASIC PLUS | CUSTOM | ZERO WASTE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Streams Covered | Core Landfill & Recycling | Core + Organics | Tailored (Inc. Specialty) | All Streams, Component-Level |
| Customized Streams | No | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Best For | LEED, ESG, Baseline | Launching or Strengthening Organics | Unique Streams, Specialized Initatives | TRUE Certification, Zero Waste Initiatives |
Unsure which audit type is right?
We’ll assess your situation and suggest the most effective audit path.
The Audit Report Delivers:
Every audit report delivers decision-grade outputs, clear metrics, visual summaries, and prioritized actions, so your team knows exactly what to do next.
Floor/Area-Level Data Breakdown
We segment results by building, floor, and key areas (docks, café, offices, labs) so you can pinpoint exactly where to focus. Charts and tables show what’s generated, what’s captured, and where gaps exist.
Behavioral & Operational Observations
Real-world findings on how people use bins and how material moves (set-outs, routes, docks, signage). You’ll get practical adjustments that improve capture and reduce contamination.
Purchasing & Material-Flow Insights
Upstream opportunities across purchasing and packaging: alternatives, reusables/returnables, vendor take-backs, and process tweaks. We map material flows so changes are specific and feasible.
Photographic Documentation
Captioned images (where permitted) of set-ups, signage, collection points, and representative materials—useful for training and before/after comparisons. Sensitive areas are excluded per site rules.
Service Cost Analysis
We analyze 12 months of invoices and tonnage records to observed fill patterns, flag avoidable fees, right-size service (sizes, counts, frequency), and confirm existing avoided costs with data.
Actionable, Prioritized Recommendations
Each item is presented as Observation → Issue → Recommendation → Projected outcome, grouped into quick wins, operational changes, and strategic upgrades—with owners and suggested timing.