Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Savage.
Hi Stacy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in southeast Texas, just minutes from the Gulf Coast and the Texas–Louisiana border. This is an area often seen as the epicenter of oil and gas production in the U.S. My parents collectively spent more than 80 years working at local refineries, and even today, many of my extended family members are employed at those same facilities. In that part of Texas, refinery work is one of the few reliable ways to make a living.
As a kid, I thought waking up to hazy skies and the smell of rotten eggs was normal. We didn’t realize we were growing up in a polluted environment – it was simply part of daily life. My family wasn’t political, either. We never talked about the news, voting, democracy, or our right to a clean environment. That all changed for me during the 2004 presidential election. In my late 20s, I “woke up” to the larger systems shaping our world and decided to channel my outrage into activism and fighting injustice. I joined an environmental nonprofit and went door-to-door across Texas to educate, empower, and mobilize Texans.
At first, my confrontational activism focused on holding corporations accountable for the pollution they created and the politicians who allowed it. Over time, I began to see that these businesses were run by people just like me with families, communities, and good intentions, but who were part of the same systems I sought to change. That realization transformed how I approached advocacy. I began to see collaboration, rather than confrontation, as the most effective tool for creating lasting environmental impact.
Eventually, it hit me: I had already built meaningful relationships with city leaders, environmental advocates, and industry stakeholders across Texas. Why not formalize those connections into something bigger? So, I did. In January 2013, I went down to the Travis County Courthouse, dropped my $17, and got my DBA! From there, I bootstrapped over $20,000, dedicated hundreds of hours to educating myself, up-skilling, training and implementing lessons learned, and finally launched my consultancy, Zero Waste Strategies LLC. Now, I help businesses and municipalities implement cost-saving, waste-diverting systems that turn sustainability from an obligation into an opportunity.
Zero Waste is more than a movement, it’s the backbone of the Circular Economy. The goal is ambitious but attainable: achieving 90% or more waste diversion from landfills and incinerators by 2040 or sooner. That vision depends on simple but powerful changes at the intersection of corporate accountability and personal responsibility: refusing unnecessary consumption, reusing and repairing what we can, and reclaiming and re-manufacturing materials instead of discarding them in landfills.
In my experience, businesses want to do better but face common barriers: not knowing where to start, feeling overwhelmed, or lacking internal support. Often, they’re motivated by a desire to reduce costs, boost employee morale, and lead their industries with integrity, but need guidance to get there. That’s where we come in. At Zero Waste Strategies, we help clients overcome those challenges, align sustainability with their business and financial goals, and lead the charge toward a cleaner, more circular future.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Ha! Not at all—it’s been anything but smooth! When I launched Zero Waste Strategies back in 2013, the transition from nonprofit and political campaign work to entrepreneurship was a major leap. For nearly a decade I was known as an activist and agitator, organizing communities and holding corporations accountable. Suddenly, I needed to reposition myself as a business owner who could *partner* with those same types of organizations to create change from within. That mindset shift took a lot of time and self reflection.
I also had to adjust to the financial realities of business ownership. Coming from the nonprofit world, I was used to small paychecks and big missions. Building my company meant learning to value my expertise, set fair rates, and confidently charge what my work was worth. That was a huge personal breakthrough.
It wasn’t until 2016 that Zero Waste Strategies really gained traction. In the early years, I worked part-time jobs to help make ends meet while my husband managed a demanding tech career. When we landed major contracts with the City of Austin and Nestlé Purina, things finally started to click, and we were both able to focus on the businesses full-time.
Running a contract-based consultancy comes with its own challenges – cash flow can fluctuate dramatically, so keeping the sales funnel full is non-negotiable. As a small team, we wear many hats: customer service, legal compliance, taxes, operations, invoicing…you name it. I’ve even become a bit of a QuickBooks ninja out of necessity!
But despite the challenges, it’s been worth every step. Each obstacle has sharpened my skills, strengthened my mission, and kept the bigger vision in focus: helping companies transform their culture around waste and sustainability. This North Star is what keeps us going, even when the road gets rough.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Zero Waste Strategies is a sustainability consulting firm that helps businesses and governments reduce waste in ways that also boost their bottom line, brand reputation, and employee engagement. I like to say we “green up corporate America from the inside out.”
We work with organizations that are ready to move beyond basic recycling and take a strategic, data-driven approach to Zero Waste and the Circular Economy.
Our core services include:
– In-depth waste audits and diversion analysis to identify cost savings and compliance gaps.
– Design, implementation, and optimization of reuse, recycling, and food waste diversion programs.
– Policy and ordinance compliance support for businesses operating under recycling and organics requirements.
– Employee and tenant training so people know exactly what to do and *why* it matters.
– Green marketing and communications support to help clients tell an authentic, credible sustainability story.
– TRUE Zero Waste Facility Certification
Look, businesses usually don’t want to deal with waste issues. They would rather pay a premium to their hauling company than to optimize their systems. There is a “yuck factor” involved where property owners and business managers typically view waste as something that just needs to be carted “away.” But, on a circular planet with finite resources, where is “away”?
Clients come to us when they want:
– Clear, actionable plans instead of jargon-filled reports that sit on a shelf.
– Help turning waste reduction into increased revenue, stronger customer loyalty, and a competitive green marketing edge.
– A collaborative partner who understands both policy and operations and can bridge the gap between city requirements, hauler expenses, and internal teams messaging.
A few things make Zero Waste Strategies different:
– Lived experience: I grew up in the shadow of oil refineries, worked in environmental activism, and helped shape local Zero Waste policy before launching my firm. That gives me a 360-degree view of community, industry, and government.
– Policy-to-practice bridge: We don’t just talk about Zero Waste in theory; we design systems that actually work on the ground for frontline staff, managers, and executives.
– Human-first approach: We focus heavily on education, culture change, and employee buy-in, because even the best-designed program fails if people don’t understand or support it.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Zero Waste Strategies has become a trusted resource and “connector” in this space. We’re known for being honest, strategic, and fun to work with, even when dealing with messy topics like trash and compliance. I’m also proud that our work helps protect communities, supports climate goals, and shows businesses that doing the right thing can also be profitable.
If you’re a business owner, sustainability lead, or city official who feels overwhelmed about where to start, or frustrated that existing programs aren’t working, there IS a path forward. My team and I meet you where you are, cut through the confusion, and help you design Zero Waste systems that make financial sense, engage your people, and reflect your values.
We’re here to be your partner in turning waste from a liability into an asset.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Adaptability has been the most important quality in my success as a founder, consultant, and former activist.
Coming from nonprofit and campaign work, I had to redefine myself from an outside agitator to a strategic partner on the inside, working with businesses instead of against them. That required constant learning about finance, sales, operations, policy, and corporate culture, as well as a willingness to keep evolving as the industry, regulations, and client needs changed.
That same adaptability also shows up as resilience: riding out slow seasons, pivoting when services or messaging aren’t landing, and staying open to feedback from clients, haulers, and city officials. Being flexible without losing sight of my values is what allows me to keep pushing Zero Waste forward in ways that are both impactful and sustainable.
Pricing:
- Waste Auditing – $3,000 and up depending on square footage
- Employee Training – Contact us for a quote
- Green Marketing – Contact us for a quote
- TRUE Facility Certification – Contact us for a quote
- “Consulting for Women in Waste” 12-week Online Course – $995
Contact Info:
- Website: https://0waste.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zerowastestrategies/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZeroWasteStrategies
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacysavage/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@zerowastestrategies?si=62P-D9fl7P3nu_dt
Image Credits
Stacy Savage
