The 0 Waste Company

0 WASTE WEB APP

Inspiration In Latin America, over 90% of waste ends up in landfills or the environment due to a lack of recycling culture and infrastructure. We were inspired by this massive challenge and saw an opportunity to turn recycling into an engaging, rewarding, and data-driven experience. With backgrounds in tech and sustainability, our team wanted to create a solution that not only reduces waste but also empowers people and companies to be part of the change.

What it does 0 Waste is a smart recycling platform that connects consumers and brands through an incentive-based system. Users scan packaging, learn how to recycle it correctly, and earn points that can be exchanged for discounts on sustainable products. Brands gain valuable insights into the post-consumption lifecycle of their products and can communicate their sustainability efforts with measurable impact.

How we built it We started with a basic prototype that used QR codes and a simple web app to guide users through the recycling process. We partnered with local brands to pilot the rewards program and used Firebase and Python for backend development. With limited resources, we focused on user experience, creating a mobile-first interface and building our first MVP in just a few weeks. Feedback from real users helped us iterate quickly.

Challenges we ran into Educating users on how to recycle correctly was harder than expected.

Integrating different packaging materials into a unified scanning and classification system.

Limited access to reliable recycling infrastructure in certain cities.

Convincing brands to invest in sustainability-focused incentives required demonstrating clear ROI.

Accomplishments that we're proud of Securing pilot partnerships with three major Latin American brands.

Launching our MVP and gaining over 500 users in the first month.

Being awarded the Corfo “Semilla Inicia” grant for innovation in Chile.

Building a passionate team committed to circular economy impact.

What we learned We learned that behavioral change requires both education and incentives. Technology can be a powerful enabler, but real-world impact depends on understanding local context and building community trust. We also discovered the value of cross-sector collaboration between startups, governments, and corporations.

What's next for The 0 Waste Company Launching a white-label version of our platform for corporate sustainability programs.

Expanding our network of recycling points and smart kiosks.

Integrating AI to improve material recognition and recycling recommendations.

Scaling across LATAM with the goal of diverting 1 million packages from landfills by 2026.