Penn State-Developed Index Centers on Zero-Waste Efforts

Several Penn State workers have developed a new measurement system to gauge zero-waste efforts in disciplines worldwide, the university announced this week.

The ReDi Index offers a system that could become ‘the national and global standard measure of sustainability-driven solid-waste efficiencies with a goal of zero waste,’ according to a Penn State news release.

It says the ReDi Index is meant to work similarly to LEED measurement and certification, which set energy-use standards for the building industry. ReDi differs in that it focuses exclusively on solid-waste reductions.

‘The ReDi Index offers the first opportunity to quantify and compare data-driven claims of zero-waste operations at any location, whether a factory, retail operation, educational institution or even a single-family home,’ index co-founder Al Matyasovsky said in the news release. ‘As far as I know, this is the first time any organized operation can receive a calculated summary of all its environmentally minded solid-waste efforts, as well as an apples-to-applies comparison of its practices against its peer organizations and, in fact, any other rating recorded in the ReDi Index.’

A patent is pending for the ReDi Index, according to Penn State. It was created by Matyasovsky, supervisor of Central Support Services at the Penn State Office of Physical Plant; Lloyd Rhoades, manager of OPP Central Services, Buildings and Grounds Division; and Brendan Bagley, OPP information technology consultant.

The full university news report on the subject is available via Penn State Live. The ReDi Index also has its own website.

Related coverage

• StateCollege.com’s Penn State news page