Taylor Zehren is a force to be reckoned with in the world of sustainable innovation. She started a non-profit called Do Good Sh*t, and then shortly after founded a company called Wasted*—the“Potty with a Purpose.” 

Wasted* is dedicated to doing more with the refuse material that humans create (and no, we’re not talking trash…at least, not this time!)

While it would be easy to think of this episode’s topic as a taboo subject (our own bathroom waste, not to mention the universally unpleasant subject of port-a-potties) it would be a shame to miss it, as Taylor’s journey is as impressive as it is inspiring. This is a woman with both a sense of humor and the kind of intense focus it takes to revolutionize an entire industry—and she’s already doing it as we speak.

Taylor Zehren Wants You to Get ‘Wasted*’

As the Co-founder and CEO of Wasted*, Taylor has always had a deep connection to the environment, which has driven her to create solutions that not only address critical waste management issues, but also promote sustainability in a fun and engaging way. The brainchild of Taylor and her co-founders, Thor Retzlaff and Brophy Tyree, Wasted* is all about transforming the outdated (and often unpleasant) world of portable toilets into something that’s not only more sustainable, but also a lot more user-friendly. 

Their flagship product, the Wasted* Station, is a portable toilet that’s designed with both humans and nature in mind. It separates liquids and solids, making the waste less energy-intensive to treat, and then converts the nitrogen-rich liquids into valuable resources, like fertilizer. These can be implemented in a variety of settings, from construction sites and festivals to more remote, off-grid locations. 

But this company isn’t just about improving portable toilets—it’s about changing the entire narrative around human waste and what we do with it. They also operate in partnership with organizations like the Rich Earth Institute, to explore innovative uses for human waste. Currently, their big project is a urine-based fertilizer, created with liquid refuse material from their special port-a-potties and treated with a “blue goo” enzyme solution. (You can read more about it under the ‘Labs’ section of their website.)

Seeing the Potential in the Port-a-Potty

Taylor’s story is a great example of how any of us might follow our passions to a transformational place—even if that place isn’t at all where we thought we would end up. 

Born and raised in Oregon, and now based in Vermont, Taylor has always been an avid traveler and outdoorswoman, constantly seeking new ways to deepen her understanding of the landscapes that sustain us, and how we can better protect them. Before creating Wasted*, she also founded Do Good Sh*t, a nonprofit that focuses on implementing sustainable waste management systems in outdoor and remote communities. 

Through her work with this company, she discovered all of the untapped potential there is in the waste from port-a-potties, which is usually so unpleasant—and expensive—to dispose of. It took a lot of work, but thanks to her tenacity we now have a product that gives the nutrients our bodies throw away back to the environment, and in a much more natural way.

Taylor’s dedication has not gone unnoticed—Taylor was recently named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in the Social Impact category, a recognition that speaks to her ability to drive meaningful change through innovative solutions. Despite all her accomplishments, however, she remains grounded and passionate about the work she’s doing. 

One Day We Won’t Call It ‘Waste’

In essence, Taylor Zehren is not just building a company—she’s building a movement—a movement that challenges us to think differently about waste and to recognize the potential it holds for creating a more sustainable future.

Whether she’s piloting new products in Vermont, or expanding the company’s reach to cities like Boston, Taylor is leading the charge in making waste management not only more sustainable, but also something we can all feel good about.

So if you’re ever at an event and find yourself in a bright orange Wasted* Station, take a moment to appreciate the thought and care that went into making it. It’s not just a portable toilet—it’s a small piece of a much larger vision that Taylor and her co-founders are bringing to life, one innovative step at a time.

(And if you’ve used it, you’ve helped too!)

• Website: Wasted*
• Website: Do Good Sh*t
• Website: LaunchVT
• Website: Rich Earth Institute
• Podcast: Ernesto Rodriguez’s CoG Episode (#180)

• 00:00 – Intro & Welcome
• 02:18 – Potties with Purpose
• 05:43 – The Creation of Wasted*
• 11:43 – What Does Wasted* Do?
• 15:30 – The Circular Economy
• 20:20 – Break
• 22:35 – Dealing with Taboos of Human Waste
• 27:25 – Update Waste Management Infrastructures
• 29:25 – Benefits of Innovating in Vermont
• 33:44 – Regenerative Agriculture
• 36:15 – Educating Others
• 39:20 – Taylor’s Original Courage
• 34:54 – The Power of Community
• 46:56 – How You Can Help
• 52:03 – Closing