The Waste Industry Is Measuring the Wrong Number

The Waste Industry Is Measuring the Wrong Number

The Waste Industry Is Measuring the Wrong NumberSam Barrili
Published on: 01/10/2026

The waste industry is measuring the wrong number. Discover why profit per ton, material recovery and secondary raw materials matter more than tonnage and diversion rates.

business strategiessecondary raw material businesssecondary raw materialsthe zero waste liezero wasterecyclinggreenwashingthe 2nd law of thermodynamicszero waste costzero waste lie
The Line Item Missing From Every Waste Company's P&L

The Line Item Missing From Every Waste Company's P&L

The Line Item Missing From Every Waste Company's P&LSam Barrili
Published on: 24/09/2026

Most waste operators leak 25–50% of their stream's value. Learn why Zero Waste targets cost you money and what the most profitable haulers do instead.

zero wastewaste managementtrash to cashsecondary raw materialsrecyclingwaste to energysecondary raw material businessthe zero waste liebusiness strategies
Your Waste Company Doesn't Have a Waste Problem

Your Waste Company Doesn't Have a Waste Problem

Your Waste Company Doesn't Have a Waste ProblemSam Barrili
Published on: 25/06/2026

Most waste companies lose profit downstream, not on fuel or labor. Learn where hidden margin leaks and how material intelligence changes the economics.

waste company profitwaste management downstream markethidden profit waste managementsecondary raw materials monetizationwaste stream value recoveryrecycling margin optimizationwaste company business strategymaterial intelligence waste industrywaste management profit marginshow waste companies lose profit without knowing itdownstream market access waste managementwaste stream profit leakagewhy recycling margins are shrinkingwaste company business model transformationsecondary raw materials market strategyhow to monetize waste streams better
The Most Expensive Words in the Waste Business: "That's About Right"

The Most Expensive Words in the Waste Business: "That's About Right"

The Most Expensive Words in the Waste Business: "That's About Right"Sam Barrili
Published on: 11/06/2026

Three words cost waste operators $50K–$200K a year. Here's the gap between "about right" and exactly right — and how to find what's hiding in your streams.

scrap metalsecondary raw materialssmall waste management company strategywaste management business modelscrap metal pricingsecondary raw materials profitwaste stream valuehauler to material providerwaste operator profit strategysecondary raw materials businesswaste management niche strategywaste stream controlwaste company profitabilitywaste sorting without technologywaste business model