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

Those mignardises might suggest that van der Kroft has made a nose-to-tail commitment to zero-waste cooking. —Ann Abel, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

The Hub is innovating for the future with affordable, zero-waste, rentable service ware. —News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025

And one of Sanchez’s former chefs, Laura Cabrera, has risen to lead her own kitchen at the zero-waste restaurant Baldío in Mexico City. —Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2025

Topped with dredged and fried shrimp legs, this recipe highlights the head-to-tail, zero-waste ethos of many Volos tsipouradika. —Greg Chelmis, Saveur, 10 July 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