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The Zero Waste Schools 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.

Share the newsletter with friends, colleagues, and students interested in zero waste.
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Plastic Free July is the global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution. Here are just a few of the many ways you can start going plastic-free.

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This plastic-free July, keep your packaging materials out of the landfill. EcoShip, a Chicago-based nonprofit, will accept your gently used bubble wrap, Amazon mailers, and more! The packaging will be reused by local businesses and nonprofits. Find out more HERE.
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Take the Plastic Free July Challenge.
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Start planning ways to transition your school from single-use plastics to reusable food ware with the Center for Environmental Health's Ditching Disposables: A Toolkit for Healthier Foodware in K-12 Schools.
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Connect with Plastic Free America to learn more about their cash subsidy to help schools switch from single-use plastics to reusable.
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Read case studies about schools' efforts to reduce their plastic waste.
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Watch inspiring videos about plastic waste solutions.
Below are some ideas to reduce your plastic use:
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Reduce plastic at your summer events by using SGA's Zero Waste Schools event guide. The guide features general advice on eliminating waste no matter the event.
- Use glass or stainless steel containers for storing food and bring your own containers for leftovers when you eat out.
- Bring reusable bags with you wherever you go to avoid plastic bags and extra fees.
| | Save the date for two upcoming SGA webinars! | | |
On Sept. 15 at 4pm cst the Zero Waste Schools team will be hosting Let’s Talk Zero Waste, a conversation about getting back into zero waste routines for the new school year. In addition to discussing waste reduction best practices, Katie Nahrwold, Illinois State Lead for the Illinois Climate Education Hub, will highlight free, standards-aligned classroom resources that can help educators connect waste reduction and sustainability efforts to meaningful, real-world learning.
Later in the month, Seven Generations Ahead and the Wasted Food Action Alliance will be hosting Decoding Food Recovery and Donation: Breaking Down Barriers and Misconceptions in Food Rescue on Sept. 28 at 2pm cst as part of the national Food Waste Prevention Week campaign.
This webinar will explore best practices for safe food rescue, highlighting successful initiatives like school share tables and donation to nonprofits.
Stay tuned to this newsletter for more information and registration links.
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Save the date for the Chicago Youth 
Climate Justice Summit!
Oct. 27, Loyola University Chicago
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We are excited to announce Chicago's second Youth Climate Justice Summit! For youth by youth! Hosted by It's Our Future, a program of Seven Generations Ahead.
The summit is a youth-led, day-long gathering focused on climate justice and solutions. YCJS aspires to empower, connect, and educate high school students from a variety of backgrounds to take meaningful action in their schools and communities and foster community among young activists through fun, creative, hands-on activities.
Chicago area high school students are invited to register! Registration will be 5 students + 1-2 teachers from each school, though individuals are welcome to join as well.
Interested students, teachers, and organizations interested in sponsoring YCJS can click HERE to find QR codes for the forms.
| | Food Waste Prevention Week 
Student Poster Contest | | |
Even though Food Waste Prevention Week (FWPW) isn’t until September, the student poster contest is now open! Whether you are a budding artist or a pro, the FWPW team is excited to see student creativity and ideas about food waste reduction. The deadline for entry is Sept. 21 and cash prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. The winners will be announced during Food Waste Prevention Week, Sept. 28- Oct. 4.
To submit an entry, click HERE.
| | A unifying symbol for reuse is here! | |
The recycling symbol is everywhere, but the reuse movement has not had a recognizable icon until now. PR3, an organization working to grow the reuse economy, recently debuted a unifying symbol for reuse. This graphic icon is meant to signal a product's reusability and will also be used to identify the infrastructure that helps circulate the product back into the market to be used again and again. The symbol will make it easier for businesses and consumers to work together to reduce plastics and other single-use packaging. Be on the lookout for the new icon!
We hope to see this symbol in school lunchrooms in the years to come as they move toward reuse.
| Beyond Plastics Pollution online class | |
Registration is now open for Judith Enck's Plastic Pollution class. Judith Enck, founder and president of Beyond Plastics, will be teaching her online Beyond Plastics class through Bennington College once again in September. This virtual class is open to all high school and college students who want to take the class for academic credit, as well as individuals of any age who are interested in learning about plastic pollution and what we can do to address the growing problem.
The class will meet on Zoom on Wednesday evenings from 7 - 9 pm cst, Sept. 9 - Oct. 21. The cost is $100 to audit or $400 for college credit.
Click HERE to register.
| | The Zero Waste Schools team is here to help! | | Please contact us at zerowaste@sevengenerationsahead.org if you need support 
with your existing waste reduction initiatives or if you'd like some help figuring 
out where to start. | | Grants and other opportunities | | |
National School Air Quality Fellowship The Center for Green Schools is now accepting applications for the School Air Quality Fellowship. This nine-month program (Sept. 2026 – May 2027) equips K–12 public school district staff with training and support to develop plans for cleaner, healthier indoor air and energy-efficient systems. Apply by July 17.
Illinois Green Schools Project (IGSP) is a yearly K-12 sustainability action and recognition program. Students and educators are encouraged to engage stakeholders in hands-on projects that focus on sustainability - from improving health to reducing waste. Registration opens on July 28.
Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant Earn up to $2000 for the development of wildlife habitat at your school! Projects must emphasize student/youth involvement with planning, development and maintenance and increase the educational and wildlife habitat values of the site. Apply by Dec. 2.
USDA: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Education and Workforce Development (EWD) focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences. Apply by Dec. 31, 2026.
Plastic Free America is dedicated to eliminating single-use petroleum-based products in everyday foodware. This subsidy program is available to schools, non-profits, restaurants, and other for-profit entities to purchase safe reusable foodware products. Apply for a subsidy HERE.
SWANCC Waste Reduction Grants are a great opportunity for schools, libraries, and nonprofits that serve SWANCC member communities. Funds can help cover the cost of materials and equipment that support waste-smart projects and sustainability initiatives. Apply for either $200 for clean up event supplies, or $1,000 for waste reduction themed projects. Apply HERE.
Illinois Climate Education Hub's Upcoming Professional Development Courses
Discover credible learning opportunities designed to deepen your climate change knowledge and equip you with best practices for teaching about climate change. Scroll down the page for event dates and times.
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July 14 - 23
This summer summit series, hosted by the Healthy Green Schools and Colleges, will focus on leadership at every level of facilities management. Whether stepping into a new leadership role, strengthening one’s own leadership approach, or cultivating leadership qualities in others, facilities professionals play a critical role in shaping the teams, systems, and cultures that make lasting change possible.
HVAC Change Lab - A New Model for School Facility Transformation
July 21, 12 - 1 pm cst
Join the Center for Green Schools, the National Center on School Infrastructure, and the New Buildings Institute for an inside look at a new national K-12 action network and the inaugural HVAC Change Lab, a growing effort to help school districts transform their school facilities to be healthier, more efficient, and high performing.
CEEE: Resilient Futures Teacher Workshop 2026
July 28 - 30, University Memorial Center at CU Boulder
Middle school and high school educators are invited to a three-day in-person teacher workshop that covers topics such as climate science, natural hazards, water resources, climate mental health, and data literacy. Engage with sessions that include scientist talks, lab tours, and networking hosted by CEEE, NOAA, and friends.
School District Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Planning
Aug. 11, 12 - 2 pm cst
Designed for district and school system level sustainability, facilities, and planning staff, the workshop will cover the key steps in creating a GHG inventory, how to use inventory results to guide reduction strategies, and include structured breakout discussions to connect with peers, share approaches and begin to build out an inventory.
Alliance for the Great Lakes: Adopt-a-Beach
Ongoing
Adopt-a-Beach cleanups are a fun, easy way to give back to your community and keep plastic pollution out of the Great Lakes.
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This newsletter was created by Seven Generations Ahead.
Funding for Zero Waste Schools is provided by Food:Land:Opportunity, a collaboration between Kinship Foundation and The Chicago Community Trust and funded through the Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust.
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