Yes. Z3 provides month-over-month and year-over-year insights so organizations can see how diversion rates, tonnage, contamination, and costs change over time.

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You can learn more about our team and mission on Z3 Data’s About page. Our founders, Steve Means and Rick Penner, bring decades of experience in recycling, reporting, and sustainability. Our mission is to simplify waste data management so organizations can focus on sustainability goals, not just spreadsheets. 

Yes. Z3’s ingestion engine, Zenbi, uses AI to interpret hauler invoices, automate data extraction, and standardize information across inconsistent formats. The AI helps identify key fields, map materials, and streamline repetitive manual tasks—significantly reducing the need for hand-entry and speeding up the entire reporting process. 

Z3 Data receives hauler information through:

• Monthly invoices
• CSV or Excel files
• API connections (when available)
• PDF uploads
• Data shared directly by the haulers through a Letter of Authorization

The system then automatically standardizes the data into a unified structure regardless of vendor or geography — turning dozens of formats into one consistent reporting model.

Z3’s ingestion engine Zenbi was built by operators who have managed hauler data for over 20 years.
It’s designed to:

• Interpret inconsistent data formats
• Map hundreds of material codes
• Identify missing or incorrect values
• Standardize month-to-month reporting
• Provide a full audit trail

This “bottom-up” design is what makes Z3 incredibly accurate compared to generic automation tools.

Spreadsheets break under multi-vendor, multi-location complexity.
Z3 replaces manual processes with:

• Standardized data
• Automated ingestion
• Built-in analytics
• Audit trails
• Real-time error detection

It removes the manual burden and drastically improves accuracy.

Z3 identifies inefficiencies and opportunities for increased diversion or reuse. By converting fragmented waste data into actionable insights, retailers can implement circular economy initiatives, reduce hauling costs, and improve material recovery.

Z3 works best for multi-location organizations such as:

• Retail chains
• Hotels and hospitality groups
• Manufacturing facilities
• Breweries and food production
• Distribution centers
• Corporate campuses
• Universities and public institutions

Any organization juggling multiple waste vendors or diverse material streams benefits immediately.

Common metrics include:

• Total waste generated
• Diversion rate
• Material breakdown (cardboard, metals, organics, commingled, landfill)
• Cost per ton / per haul
• Contamination indicators
• Vendor performance
• Compliance alignment
• Scope 3 emission outputs
• Missed pickup detection

Companies also use Z3 for benchmarking across locations.