Zero Waste
Communities, Schools, and Institutions
Overview
Landfills are reaching their limits and creating billions of dollars worth of pollution that impacts our water, air, land, and health. Earth’s natural resources are used and discarded beyond their capacity to regenerate, while methane linked to waste contributes significantly to global warming. To achieve a sustainable system of managing our resources, communities must incorporate nature’s law, waste = food, and channel materials into re-use and new production.
Seven Generations Ahead promotes planning and implementation that moves toward the goal of generating Zero Waste. Zero Waste requires a shift from a “take-make-waste” consumption mentality to a sustainable “resource management” paradigm that seeks to:
– eliminate waste at its source
– collect and reuse discards
– convert food residuals into compost and energy
– increase recycling
– procure products that are safe for our children
– design products with our health, the environment, and their end use in mind
Zero Waste Schools
Seven Generations Ahead works with district and school leaders to design strategic plans and support implementation that moves schools toward generating Zero Waste. Through grants and fee-for-service agreements, SGA provides the following resources and support:
– Baseline Waste Assessments
– District and School Cost Savings Related to Waste Reduction Strategies
– Zero Waste Strategic Planning and Implementation
– Product Research and Procurement
– Funding Development and Proposal Writing
– Multiple School Cluster Meeting Facilitation
– Staff and Student Educational Programming
– Communications and Community Relations
– Zero Waste School Video, Curriculum, and Guide
