Zero Waste Schools
SGA’s Zero Waste Schools (ZWS) program guides schools on a path to zero waste and more sustainable practices. ZWS provides expert guidance, actionable strategies, and hands-on support for schools to reduce food and plastic waste, recover food for people in need, and integrate food scrap collection and composting systems, while inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.
Reducing Waste One School at a Time
The Zero Waste Schools program helps schools become more sustainable by significantly reducing lunchroom waste through a variety of strategies, including source reduction, recycling, composting, and food recovery. The ZWS team sets schools up for a successful and manageable transition to zero waste by providing guidance for necessary operational changes, educational resources, and can provide onsite support for schools in Lake County, McHenry County, Chicago Public Schools and western Cook County suburbs. See the Zero Waste Schools Toolkit for resources to support your school on its path to zero waste.
Logistical Support
Making Waste Reduction Achievable
The ZWS team provides support for schools on their sustainability and waste reduction journeys, setting schools up for success by ensuring they’ve got everything they need to go green in the lunchroom. We can help schools implement kitchen and cafeteria waste reduction strategies such as minimizing packaging, reducing food waste through improved serving methods, recovering food through the use of share tables, and setting up zero waste stations in the cafeteria with proper bins and effective signage.
Education
Teaching Waste Reduction Best Practices
A key component of the ZWS program is educating stakeholders about best practices in waste reduction. The team also holds webinars and gives presentations to share this information with a wider audience and provides a wide array of online resources for schools to easily access.
School Assessments
Measuring Makes for Success
The ZWS team can work with schools to analyze their kitchen and lunchroom practices by completing a detailed evaluation. The results of the assessment can help schools identify where to focus their waste reduction efforts and determine which strategies will be the most impactful.
Partnering for a Future Without Waste
The Zero Waste Schools team at SGA partners with nonprofits, waste agencies, school districts, and others to maximize program impact.
News & Resources
Zero Waste Schools Newsletter
The Zero Waste Schools monthly newsletter will help you get your school on a path toward generating zero waste through waste prevention, recycling, composting, and food recovery. You’ll also find resources that connect zero waste to healthy eating, school gardens, and environmental education and action. Feel free to share the newsletter with friends, colleagues, and students who are interested in zero waste.