Supporting Zero Waste Programs in
Zoos, Aquariums, and Animal Facilities
Zoos, aquariums, wildlife centers, and animal care facilities play a critical role in conservation, yet large volumes of organic waste generated each day, including produce, feed scraps, bedding, and manure, often leave the system as landfill waste instead of being returned to the soil. When this material is landfilled, it produces methane, a major climate driver that directly undermines broader conservation and climate goals these institutions are working to advance.
At the same time, these facilities operate under strict safety standards, tight staffing, and complex daily routines. Many composting efforts fail because they depend on high labor, inconsistent systems, or approaches that do not align with existing waste operations or budgets.
Our program closes that gap. We provide structured, onsite and offsite composting systems designed for real animal care environments. These systems fit within daily operations, meet safety requirements, and scale across facilities without adding unnecessary complexity. Staff actions such as feeding animals, cleaning habitats, and managing waste become part of a larger closed loop system that reduces landfill use, cuts methane emissions, and returns nutrients back into productive use.
This is how daily operational decisions connect to measurable environmental outcomes. Waste becomes a resource, sustainability goals move from planning into practice, and conservation efforts extend beyond messaging into systems that deliver real, lasting impact.
Our Animal Facility Composting Programs are Practical, Safe, and Built for Impact
Organic Waste Diversion Built Into Daily Operations
Composting integrates into existing feeding, cleaning, and waste management routines without disrupting staff workflows.
Safe, Controlled Systems for Animal Environments
Programs are designed with clear separation, contamination control, and animal-safe practices that meet operational standards.
Facilities Reduce Waste and Cut Methane Emissions
Diverting organic waste reduces landfill dependency while supporting sustainability goals and environmental commitments.
How Our Program Works
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We Provide the Tools and Framework: Facilities receive structured guidance, operational setup plans, signage, and best practices tailored to animal care environments. This includes waste stream identification, contamination prevention, and system design aligned with your site.
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Staff Implement Within Existing Workflows: Zookeepers, aquarists, and operations teams integrate composting into feeding, cleaning, and maintenance routines. Systems are designed to be simple, repeatable, and easy to maintain.
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Facilities Reduce Waste and Improve Sustainability Metrics: Organic waste is diverted from landfill into composting systems, supporting zero waste goals, reducing methane emissions, and strengthening environmental reporting.
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Economically Feasible: Programs are designed to start without requiring major new infrastructure or additional staffing. Facilities can start small and scale using existing resources.
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Scalable Across Departments: Programs can expand from a single area to multiple zones across a facility, including animal care, landscaping, food service, and public-facing spaces.
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Long-Term Operational Success: Because systems are built into daily routines, they remain consistent over time. This creates durable change, not short-term initiatives that can be impacted by staff turnover.
Expand Public Environmental Education
Animal facilities are uniquely positioned to educate the public on sustainability, conservation, and responsible resource use. Composting programs can be integrated into:
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Visitor education and signage
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Behind-the-scenes sustainability tours
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Youth programs, camps, and school partnerships
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Conservation messaging tied to climate and waste reduction
This turns operational waste into a visible, educational asset that strengthens your mission and public impact.
Case Study: Reptile Sanctuary Reaches Zero Organic Waste
Meet Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary (PHS), the largest reptile sanctuary in the United States and a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on reptile rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation education. Since PHS's inception in 2001, the staff and volunteers of PHS have dedicated the majority of their time to rescuing reptiles, and many times rehabilitating those reptiles. Their services have grown over the years from solely taking in unwanted reptile pets to rattlesnake removal, rattlesnake removal training, helping take in and reunite lost and found reptiles, working with law enforcement agencies for illegal or confiscated animals, and even helping special needs reptiles. Emphasizing that "Conservation Begins With Education," PHS also spends much of their time in the public space, educating about the amazing animals that are reptiles through school presentations and exhibits. On average, they house 1,500 to 3,000 reptiles and animals - meaning they deal with a LOT of waste.
In January 2024, Let's Go Compost began working with PHS to find a waste solution for their facility to handle inedible food donations, enclosure bedding, and manure. Beginning first with education, Let’s Go Compost was able to provide workshops and materials connecting PHS’s conservation efforts to the impact a zero organic waste facility could have on the reptiles and animals they serve, both locally and globally. From books to compost tumblers to visual aids for facilities tours (showcasing PHS’s efforts to compost), the facility began their zero-waste journey with full steam ahead.
Thanks to a generous sponsorship by WeCare Denali in May 2024 that Let's Go Compost was able to secure, all organic waste is now being composted from PHS' site at the WeCare Denali City of Phoenix Composting Facility. An estimated 3,187.2 pounds of organic waste is now being composted each week, translating to 165,734.4 pounds per year. Not only will discarded vegetation and bedding now be turned into nutrient-rich soil, but the site is now reducing their greenhouse gas emissions (GhG) by 177.35 tons of CO2e annually (the same as removing 38 passenger vehicles from the road with a water footprint of 3.41 million gallons, equivalent to 5 olympic swimming pools) - all working to empower their conservation efforts even further.
Let’s Go Compost is proud to have worked with PHS and WeCare Denali behind the scenes to champion this zero waste impact. By allowing Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary to maintain its focus on reptile rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation education, Let's Go Compost was able to take charge behind the scenes to address the challenge of organic waste management within the facility and seamlessly integrate zero waste solutions and composting pick up without disrupting the facility’s day-to-day operations.
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality proudly awarded the Sanctuary a Copper Voluntary Environmental Stewardship Award for the program in 2025.
Findings based on wet food waste weight of 8.3 lbs per gallon alongside the ReFed Impact Calculator: https://insights-engine.refed.org/impact-calculator.
You can help make this program possible.
Support zero waste solutions in zoos, aquariums, and animal care facilities across the country. Learn how to partner with us or sponsor implementation at a facility here.