We believe the most responsible unit of waste is the one not generated, therefore, we implement sustainable practices to reduce our impact on the environment and provide for future generations. First, we seek to continuously reduce the number and types of material streams that end up in our dumpsters. Second, we seek to divert those materials to productive uses such as reuse, recycling, composting, etc.
Krause Group created a full-time Waste Reduction Specialist position in 2020. That individual is a certified TRUE Zero Waste Advisor® and supports our commitment to responsible waste management and reduction. Dalla Terra Ranch generated only 152 pounds of trash in the past two years, while our Italian businesses continue to recycle all materials per national regulations. Given the continued struggles of the U.S. recycling industry, Kum & Go is actively working with new partners on data management and equipment testing to make recycling available consistently at all our locations. There is still work to do, and we are excited about the future.
We will continue to report estimates supported by internal audits and EPA conversion factors to arrive at total weights and percentage (%) diversion from landfills companywide. Some businesses are currently excluded from this metric: Enrico Serafino lacks documentation from vendors, while Des Moines Menace and Teamwork Ranch operate no facilities. Because we were able to collect data from Solar Transport and Parma Calcio 1913, our overall materials generated increased in 2021, but our diversion-from-landfill rate improved by two percentage points. Those efforts kept the equivalent weight of 105 blue whales out of landfills last year.