Forgot password

Zero Waste Principles and Practices Certification

This program is issued jointly by CRRA and SWANA and is administered as part of the SWANA Certification Program recognized throughout the United States and Canada.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE FALL COURSE - OCTOBER 2-6, 2023, CLICK HERE


For over 40 years CRRA has been a leader in Zero Waste education in California.  Now, joining forces with SWANA, CRRA offers a new professional development course that will certify professionals in Zero Waste Principles and Practices throughout North America.

This course provides students with a comprehensive knowledge of rapidly emerging public and private sector Zero Waste programs and the key principles that support these programs. The course also provides tools to help draw together aspects of existing programs and new efforts into community-specific Zero Waste Programs.

The Zero Waste Principles & Practices certification course is a joint undertaking of SWANA and the California Resource Recovery Association. CRRA is dedicated to achieving environmental sustainability in and beyond California through Zero Waste strategies. SWANA, with its work in 45 chapters across the United States and Canada, is committed to educating professionals working in the industry and to moving the industry as a whole from a focus on solid waste management to resource management.

Content and Approach

The Zero Waste Principles & Practices course encompasses a broad overview of Zero Waste principles and practices in 10 modules covering public policy, programs, technology and measurement:

  • Introduction to Zero Waste, including a survey of different definitions and perspectives
  • What’s In Your Waste Stream?
  • Upstream, Midstream and Downstream: understanding Zero Waste strategies as they affect each stage of product lifestyles
  • Collections Options
  • Processing Technology Options
  • Managing Organics
  • Public Venues and Challenging Materials
  • Changing Behavior through Education and Outreach
  • Financing and Funding
  • Contracting and Partnerships

The course provides many opportunities for discussion among instructors and participants. It draws on current materials and examples from outside the published manual and engages students in several in-class exercises.

The Zero Waste Principles and Practices Certification is issued jointly by CRRA and SWANA and is administered as part of the SWANA Certification Program recognized throughout the United States and Canada.

Individuals and employers who will benefit from Zero Waste Principles and Practices Certification:

  • Municipal and tribal recycling and solid waste professionals

  • Recycling and solid waste services providers

  • Consultants and contractors serving the recycling sector

  • Business and municipal sustainability professionals

  • Zero Waste and sustainability community advocates

  • Private and public sector policymakers

  • Private/non-profit business sustainability professionals.

This course focuses on developing community-specific Zero Waste plans for reducing, reusing, and recycling materials found in municipal solid waste (MSW) generated from residential, commercial and institutional sources.

For updates and news on upcoming classes, join our mailing list. 

 


Upcoming events

  • Zero Waste Campus Council (ZWCC) Monthly Call

    • 28 Apr 2026
    • 24 Nov 2026
    • 7 sessions

    Zero Waste Campus Council (ZWCC) Member Meeting

    Join us for ZWCC Technical Council's monthly member meetings "Meet Up, Waste Down".

    Meet Up, Waste Down is ZWCC's monthly gathering to share experiences around waste reduction and diversion issues surrounding building and campus environments. 

    Meetings take place on the last Tuesday of the Month from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. 

    You don't need to be a CRRA member to attend ZWCC meetings.

    To register, you must be part of ZWCC's online member community. Click HERE to join ZWCC and get connected to meetings, events and the ZWCC community.


    Show details

  • Local Agency Technical Council (LATC) Meeting

    • 28 Apr 2026
    • 27 Oct 2026
    • 3 sessions

    Local Agency Technical Council (LATC) Meeting 

    Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 28 at 2:00 p.m. for our next meeting.

    Meetings will continue to occur through 2026 bi-monthly on the last Tuesday of every other month at 2PM, PST.

    To register for this meeting, you must be a part of LATC's online community. Sign up HERE and look for registration information once admitted to the community. 

    Show details

  • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Monthly Call

    • 04 May 2026
    • 01 Jun 2026
    • 2 sessions

    Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Technical Council 

    2026 Member Meetings

    Join HHW TC for it's monthly members meetings in 2026. Meetings are set to occur each month, on the first Monday, from 10-11AM.

    To register, you must be part of HHW's online member community. Click HERE to join HHW and head to the Events tab for registration information. To learn more about HHW click here.

    Show details

  • Coffee Chat With A Mentor - A Mentorship Circle Event

    • 11 May 2026
    • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
    • Zoom
    • 235
    Register



    Once registered, a confirmation email containing webinar login information will be sent to you. 

    Show details

  • Edible Food Recovery (EFR) Monthly Call

    • 12 May 2026
    • 14 Jul 2026
    • 3 sessions

    Edible Food Recovery (EFR) Technical Council 

    2026 Member Meetings

    Join EFR TC for its monthly members meetings in 2026. Meetings are set to occur each month, on the second Tuesday, from 12-1PM.

    To register, you must be part of EFR's online member community. Click HERE to join EFR and head to the Events tab for registration information.

    The Edible Food Recovery Technical Council's mission is to promote edible food recovery for the purpose of helping with food insecuirty and removing edible resources from the waste or compost stream. To learn more about EFR click here.

    Show details

  • CRRA Trashy Yap-py Hour

    • 12 May 2026
    • 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    • Benny Boy Brewing 1821 Daly St, Los Angeles, CA 90031
    • 14
    Register

    MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

    California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) is hosting their first Trashy Yap-py Hour!

    Come yap, talk trash, and sip on a cold drink with industry peers and waste-curious peeps of all ages and experiences.

    Special thanks to Athens Services for sponsoring the venue.

    When and Where?
    Tuesday, May 12th, 6:00pm - 9:30pm
    Benny Boy Brewing
    1821 Daly St, Los Angeles, CA 90031

    Why Attend?

    • Network with like-minded folks
    • Get to know people before the CRRA conference in August
    • Learn more about the waste industry
    • Hang out with two cool brewery cats and even cooler people

    RSVP Now
    RSVP is required and limited to 60 people. The event is free to attend and CRRA membership is not required. Must be 21 to attend. Drinks and parking are NOT included with RSVP.

    Where to Park
    Street parking is free, but can be limited. We encourage carpooling or ride share. Benny Boy usually offers valet as an option.

    What if I don't live nearby?
    No worries, more Trashy Yap-py Hours are in the works up and down the state. Stay tuned!

    Show details

  • Prevention, Reuse, and Repair Council (PRR) Monthly Call

    • 27 May 2026
    • 25 Nov 2026
    • 4 sessions

    Prevention, Reuse, & Repair (PRR) Member Meeting

    Join us for PRR Technical Council (PRR) bi-monthly member meetings! 

    Meetings on the 4th Wednesday of the Month (starting in January 2026) from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

    You don't need to be a CRRA member to attend our meetings, but you do need to be a member to get some perks.

    To register, you must be part of PRR's online member community. Click HERE to join PRR and get plugged into this group of amazing professionals and zero waste warriors.


    Show details

  • 50th Annual CRRA Conference and Trade Show

    • 30 Aug 2026
    • 02 Sep 2026
    • Sheraton San Diego Resort - San Diego, CA
    Register

    Each year, the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) organizes one of the most comprehensive and informative conferences dedicated to resource management issues in California and beyond. CRRA is well known for its training and educational offerings since the early 1970s. The Annual Conference and Trade Show attracts over 800 individuals annually and showcases an estimated 30 sessions each year with over 100 industry experts as presenters.

    3 Days of Networking//Over 100 Presenters//50+ Innovative Exhibitors//Virtual Option Available

    This year's event will be a hybrid, available live as well as online via streaming. All speakers will be presenting live from San Diego.

    Important Dates:

    • June 30, 2026 – Early Bird Deadline
    • August 14, 2026 - Last day to purchase online and last day to receive payment by check (check must be received in our offices no later than August 14, 2026)
    • August 30, 2026 - September 2, 2026 – Onsite registration, subject to a $50 on-site processing fee (not including receptions)
    • September 2, 2026 - Optional tours will be offered and will (approximately) occur from 1:30pm-6:00pm. Please keep this in mind when making travel arrangements.


    YOU MUST BE LOGGED IN TO ACCESS MEMBER RATES

    Join today - become a member and save!

    Members receive a discount on CRRA Annual Conference registration rates, as well as discounts to many other industry events (to receive the discount, you must first join CRRA and then log in to receive member conference rates). Click here for membership details.


    CONFERENCE CANCELLATION POLICY

    • Send written cancellation requests by email to lauren@crra.com. Cancellation requests will not be accepted by phone.  
    • Cancellations requests received by June 2, 2026 will receive a 100% refund, less a $50 per person processing fee. 
    • Cancellation requests received between June 3 and by August 3, 2026 will receive a 50% refund, less a $50 per person processing fee. 
    • Cancellations requests received after August 3, 2026 will not be refunded. 
    • “No shows” will not be refunded. 
    • Cancellation reimbursement payments will be processed four to six weeks after September 2, 2026. 
    • Substitutions are allowed. If substituting a non-member for a member registration, non-member rate increase will apply.

    EXHIBITOR CANCELLATION POLICY

    • Send written cancellation requests by email to lauren@crra.com. Cancellation requests will not be accepted by phone.  
    • Cancellation requests received by February 28, 2026 will receive a 100% refund, less a $150 processing fee.
    • Cancellation requests received between March 1, 2026 and May 30, 2026 will receive a 50% refund, less a $150 processing fee.
    • No refunds will be given after May 30, 2026.

    PAYMENT INFORMATION

    • Payments by check for Early Bird rates must be received and/or postmarked by June 30, 2026 to receive Early Bird discounted pricing. Registration will not be complete when payments of Early Bird rates are received after June 30, until payment in full at the applicable rate is received.
    • Payments by check must be received in our offices by August 14, 2026 to ensure registration will be complete and conference credentials provided at the event.  
    • Registration is not guaranteed and conference credentials may be withheld when payment by check is received after August 14, 2026; payment in full by credit card may be required at time of check-in to obtain conference credentials.
    • Registration is not guaranteed and conference credentials may be withheld until payment in full is provided; payment in full by credit card may be required at time of check-in to obtain conference credentials.

    IMPORTANT

    • Membership dues must be paid in full at time of purchase to receive the membership discount.  
    • Conference credentials will not be provided until registration fees have been received in full (as well as any membership dues, if applicable).
    • All past due monies and balance due from previous CRRA events must be paid in full, to receive Conference credentials.
    • Conference registrations may be transferred or substituted in whole upon written request. Please contact us for details.
    • Conference registration is for one named individual and may not be “shared” between multiple individuals.
    • Full-Conference Rates include all plenary and panel sessions, receptions, and on-site meals.
    • Tours are available on a first-come, first-reserved basis. A wait list will be available.
    • By attending this event you understand that CRRA cannot prevent you from becoming exposed to, contracting, or spreading COVID-19 while attending this conference. You understand that by choosing to attend this conference, you may be exposing yourself to and/or increasing your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. Some participants who have certain health risks or who live with people at risk may have to, or choose to, wear masks; CRRA asks that you respect their choice and right to wear a mask in order to protect themselves, their families and their communities. For those who are experiencing cold symptoms prior to the event, please consider COVID-19 testing prior to attending. Anyone who must cancel their in-person plans will be automatically provided virtual conference access.
    • BE AWARE OF HOTEL SCAMS - CRRA ONLY OFFERS HOTEL ROOMS THROUGH OUR OFFICIAL CONFERENCE WEBSITE FOUND AT www.CRRA.com/conference

    MEALS - Please note: we provide the following meals for registered attendees: continental breakfast on August 31st, September 1st and 2nd; lunch on September 1st and 2nd only. Only individuals registered for the conference have access to the dining area.

    SPECIAL ACCESS - For questions about accessibility or to request special access accommodations please contact Florence Torres (florence@crra.com). Two weeks advance notice will allow us to provide seamless access.
    Show details

 California Resource Recovery Association   813 Harbor Blvd #185   West Sacramento, CA 95691  (916) 441-2772

RETURN TO CRRA.COM

Privacy Policy

 

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software