Does Zero Waste Exist?

Recently I was driving down the road and heard an ad from Subaru claiming their plant in Indiana is a zero waste facility. Could this be true?

http://green.autoblog.com/2006/10/31/subaru-zero-waste-factory-wins-epa-award/

We frankly don't see it as possible. One reason is not every material that comes out of these plants are technically recyclable. For example, the carpet used in cars is a hybrid type that has no markets. We also are all too aware that suppliers may be taking stuff back and saying the materials are recycled when in reality its not happening.

When we visited the Subaru website, turns out they are not claiming zero waste but zero waste to landfill. Is this true?

http://www.subaru.com/company/environment-sustainability.html

Clearly they are sending stuff to waste-to-energy facilities. Point of fact is the US Green Building Council doesn't allow projects to count waste going to these kinds of facilities as diversion because its really not. Its waste reduction. The burnt garbage, now in ash form, does indeed go to landfill. So how is this zero waste or no landfill.

So while we question the claims, we support the goal. The creation of waste by manufacturers points to inefficiencies, which we all pay for when we buy their products. Movings towards less waste is admirable and desirable. But lets not get ahead of ourselves with undeserved accolades.