Nettelhorst Elementary School, a Chicago Public School located in the Lakeview neighborhood, launched a zero waste program in their lunchroom at the start of 2019. The program reduces waste through liquid diversion, recycling, tray-stacking, and a share table. It has been in the works since the pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade school reached out to Seven Generations […]
Small Change Leads to Big Waste Reductio...
If you’ve ever eaten in a school cafeteria, you have probably encountered a spork packet. It’s a little plastic bag that typically comes with a combo spoon-fork utensil, a straw, and a tiny folded napkin, all in one convenient packet. It is ready for a student to grab and have everything they need– or don’t […]
Fox Valley Zero Waste Schools event spar...
On Nov. 28, 35 educators, school administrators, district staff, parents, and county recycling agency representatives gathered at the beautiful Onion Pub & Brewery in Lake Barrington for a meeting that sparked conversations and connections around zero waste initiatives in Fox Valley area schools and beyond. The event began with a presentation by Susan Casey, Zero […]
Southside Occupational Academy: Honored ...
In May, the U.S. Department of Education honored 58 schools across the country as Green Ribbon Schools. The award recognizes schools, districts, and institutions of higher education that reduce environmental impact and costs; improve the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and provide environmental education. This year Southside Occupational Academy High School (SOA), […]
Portage Park Elementary School launches ...
Portage Park Elementary School, a Chicago Public School located in the Portage Park neighborhood of Chicago, began 2018 with a goal of recycling more and reducing landfill waste. Teacher Mary Hobaugh reached out to Seven Generations Ahead’s Susan Casey for guidance on starting a recycling program at the school. The plan was to start with classroom […]
OPRFHS students conduct waste audit
The Oak Park and River Forest High School Environmental Club conducted a waste audit of the student cafeterias in late January. Seven Generations Ahead’s Zero Waste Schools Program Manager Susan Casey provided on-site support and guidance for the audit. The group of seven students, along with the club’s faculty adviser, collected trash and recycling bins […]
The journey of Oak Park School District ...
After eating lunch, students in Oak Park Elementary School District 97 sort their leftover food scraps into compost bins located in school cafeterias. But what happens to those food scraps after they leave the school? Seven Generations Ahead (SGA) sought to answer that question by following those scraps. Its team recently toured the Willow Ranch Compost Facility, […]
Zero Waste Ambassadors host tour for Cit...
On Feb. 24, 2017, Seven Generations Ahead (SGA) coordinated a multi-school tour of the Chicago Public Schools Commercial Composting Program for the City of Chicago’s Chris Wheat, Chief Sustainability Officer, and Chris Sauve, Recycling Program Director. The tour included stops at Sandoval Elementary School and Hernandez Middle School and culminated with a discussion with Solorio […]
SGA helps CPS divert tons of food waste ...
Seven Generation Ahead’s partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to implement zero waste programs and teach students to be Zero Waste Ambassadors has entered its third year. Five schools participated in the initial year pilot program, five more came aboard in the second year and this year’s plan is to double the number of schools […]
Solorio’s Zero Waste Program advances ch
The law of conservation of mass states that matter is neither created nor destroyed. This principle applies to all matter, including waste sent to landfills. Though waste cannot be destroyed, Sophomores at Solorio Academy High School in Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood have taken it upon themselves to find a way to put it to better use. […]