Zero Waste Resources

CAMPUS RESOURCES

PHASE 1-2: BUY-IN, ASSESSMENT, AND PLANNING

GOALS, MANDATES, AND STRATEGIES

Zero Waste Goals, Mandates, and Strategies: This resource page makes the case for why energy conservation matters, and lays out relevant goals, mandates, and strategies for school communities to consider.

ASSESSMENT AND AUDIT RESOURCES

Zero Waste Audit: This tool provides a comprehensive audit for zero waste efforts across a campus, curriculum, and community.
Awards Program: Green Ribbon (ED-GRS & CA-GRS): Pillar 1 - Elements IC: Waste

TOOLKITS FOR PLANNING AND GETTING STARTED

Strategic Planning

TEMPLATE: District Zero Waste Assessment and Strategic Plan
TEMPLATE: Site Level Zero Waste Strategic Plan

Other Tools and Guides

8Rs of Zero Waste: Solutionary Action and Advocacy Strategies
Waste Bin Vendors and Products Examples (Find estimated costs of waste bins here!)
Waste Bin Sign Examples
Textbook Recycling and Donating

PHASE 2-3: IMPLEMENTATION, CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT, AND RECOGNITION

TRACKING AND MONITORING

Campus Sustainability Dashboard and Examples: This document provides an overview to what a Campus Sustainability Dashboard is, and why it is an important tool for advancing environmental and climate action in schools. The document also includes examples such as vendor resources, recommendations for dashboard data to include, and curriculum resource examples.
Green Club Zero Waste Activities: This document provides example activities that a green club can host to support zero waste initiatives.

SUCCESS AND RECOGNITION

AWARDS PROGRAM EXAMPLES

Green Ribbon (ED-GRS & CA-GRS): Pillar 1 - Elements IC: Waste
CA Green Business Award: Waste

CURRICULUM RESOURCES

The San Mateo County Office of Education's (SMCOE) Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative (ELSI) developed a number of supplemental curriculum resources:

- Field Research for Home: K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12
- School Audit Activities: 3-8 and 6-12
- Waste WebQuests: 3-5 Waste and Consumption WebQuest; 6-8 Waste and Consumption WebQuest; and 9-12 Waste and Consumption WebQuest
- Curriculum: K-12 Zero Waste Solutionary PBL Unit

StopWaste: Doing the 4R’s: A Classroom Guide to Teach Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot. Developed for 4th and 5th grade but easily adaptable to younger grade levels.

Energize Schools: Strategic Energy Innovations (SEI) has created a number of no-cost resources and supportive services including: sustainability project-based curriculum, instructional support in the classroom, field trips, instructional materials, and teacher trainings. They also have other curriculum resources available to browse and use. Click here or a zero waste school guide, free for California High School Teachers.

California Academy of Sciences:

3-11th Food Waste Audit for home or school
6th-11th Reducing Food Waste Video
6th-12th Reducing San Francisco Landfill Waste

World Wildlife Fund: Units exploring food waste for grades 5-12. "The food waste warrior toolkit provides lessons, activities and resources to share how what we eat and what we throw away impacts our planet by creating a classroom in the cafeteria."

EPA: A teacher's guide to Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling. Lessons range from K-8 and cover a variety of waste topics including natural resources, recycling, and composting.

Eco Rise: EcoRise develops the next generation of creative problem solvers by enlivening conventional classrooms with academically-aligned K-12 curriculum that introduce students to environmental literacy, social innovation and hands-on design skills. Green professionals serve as guest speakers and project mentors to help students solve real-world sustainability challenges concerning energy, water, waste, transportation, air quality, food and public spaces.