What are scope 3 emissions from waste and why do they matter?

GHG Protocol scope 3 category 5 covers third-party treatment of waste generated in your operations. It is not a fixed percentage of every business's footprint.

What to check

1. Record period, site, material, mass and actual treatment route; label estimated weights.
2. Ask which destination and treatment method contractor data describes, including rejected loads.
3. Document the calculation method and retain the source and version of emission factors.
4. Keep avoided-emissions comparisons separate from the inventory and explain assumptions. Ask your adviser which reporting obligations apply.

Source context

The guidance distinguishes third-party treatment from facilities you control and describes supplier-specific, waste-specific and average-data methods. GHG Protocol: Category 5: Waste Generated in Operations.

Related resources

• How to Reduce Commercial Waste Costs
• Waste Audit Checklist

Related questions

• How does waste affect my business's carbon footprint?
• What is sustainability reporting and do I need to do it?
• Can my business get carbon credits for recycling waste?

Sources

• GHG Protocol — Category 5: Waste Generated in Operations. Printed pages 72-76 and 79. Checked 18 September 2026.