Zero-Waste Sets on Remote Locations: A Gaffer's Logistics Problem

Hey everyone,

I'm Tomáš, a Gaffer, and I've been really trying to push for more sustainable practices on set. I've read a lot about 'zero-waste' goals, and in principle, I'm all for it. We recently shot a small docuseries out in the national parks using an ALEXA Mini and relying heavily on a couple of LS 1200d Pros and some Helios Tubes for our lighting. Even with a small crew, the amount of waste accumulated was tough to manage.

We did our best with separate bins for plastics and cardboard, but once you're miles from the nearest town, with zero local composting or even proper recycling facilities, it feels like a losing battle. Everything gets hauled back to a city, often just to end up in a landfill because the local transfer station doesn't handle commercial-level sorting.

For those of you who've tackled genuinely remote locations (think beyond just a difficult drive, but places with no existing green infrastructure) what are the biggest logistical roadblocks you've faced in trying to achieve anything close to a zero-waste set? And more importantly, what practical solutions have you found work?