WeGenerative is distinguished by our dedication to turning waste into resources for community benefit. We see excess as an opportunity to do better. Our waste-reduction systems are designed to minimize landfill and maximize the possibilities of would-be waste. We are known for our focus on food donation in addition to recycling.
We are driven by a vision of transforming waste systems into a force for positive environmental change. WeGenerative specializes in designing and implementing waste-reduction systems for municipal entities, at events, music festivals, and, notably, federal wildfire-response camps. We are one of a select seven recycling companies nationwide that form the backbone of the “Greening Fires Initiative,” a federal contract with the United States Forest Service.
Wildfire Waste Diversion
As an “incident recycler” within the US Forest Service’s Greening Fires Initiative, WeGenerative mobilizes to federal wildfire bases of operation within 24-36 hours of the call, establishing recycling and waste reduction systems. These federal disaster-response camps resemble temporary cities with substantial personnel and waste volumes that overwhelm local waste infrastructure. WeGenerative’s role involves educating, sorting waste, and minimizing landfill while maximizing community benefit, all while maintaining meticulous record of waste diversion metrics by weight. We proudly donate surplus food, compost, and monetize recycling proceeds for charitable causes.
Our greatest achievement within these endeavors is our exceptional waste diversion rate. At the Wishon Wildfire in California in 2022, we diverted a remarkable 58% of total waste, the best in the history of the program, with 47% of that being food donations. This achievement is emblematic of our mission to turn waste into resources for community benefit. Importantly, our methods achieved diversion rates nearly double the Forest Service’s Greening Fires Initiative’s goal of 30%, setting a new standard for waste management in these demanding environments.
In 2021, WeGenerative facilitated the donation of over 19,000lbs (19,026.2 lbs) of would-be wasted food to evacuees and local organizations at the Dixie Wildfire. We are federal contractors with the United States Forest Service as Incident Recyclers, and have the highest waste diversion rates ever achieved in the program. At the Wishon Fire, we diverted 58% of the total waste, 47% of which was food donations. The Forest Service’s Greening Fires Initiative aims for recyclers to achieve 30% diversion—our methods are nearly twice as successful. In 2022, WeGenerative donated over 17,000lbs(17,794.5lbs) of food and beverages. In the past three years, we’ve facilitated the donation of over 50,000 lbs of edible food — and counting!
Sustainable Event Waste Management
Our impact extends to the vibrant world of events and music festivals. We advise event organizers on product choices in alignment with local recycling laws and resources, set up and maintain outdoor waste infrastructure, educate attendees and staff on responsible recycling and composting practices, and work tirelessly to minimize waste. Our distinctive approach includes visually engaging signage, rigorous diversion-focused waste sorting and characterization, and community outreach.
Waste Education
We make waste-reduction into a colorful, memorable experience with brightly-illustrated, easy-to-understand signs, interactive education, and positive community outreach. We sort every bag of trash at our pop-up recycle stations, minimizing landfill and maximizing what is donated, composted, and recycled.
An outstanding example of our success partnering with municipal agencies to drive waste reduction and community engagement is our work with the San Luis Obispo County’s Integrated Waste Management Authority (SLO County IWMA). WeGenerative teamed up with SLO County IWMA to create a dynamic visual education program that combined eye-catching graphics and informative materials, all tailored to resonate with the local community. Our approach effectively communicated the benefits of organics recycling and educated residents on the practical steps they could take to reduce waste.
Waste Diversion at Shabang Music Festival 2023
