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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.
| | Building Power Together: Coalition Strategies for Climate Education Policy | | |
The Coalition for Climate Education Policy is a diverse cross-sector coalition of organizations, advocates for federal policies, and cross-agency efforts to advance climate literacy in the United States. Their June 2 webinar, Building Power Together: Coalition Strategies for Climate Education Policy, featured panelists from Oregon, Illinois (represented by SGA's own Rachel Rosner), New York, and Colorado who have successfully passed climate education policies in their states. Attendees learned practical ideas for building coalitions and organizing infrastructure needed to pass and implement meaningful climate education policies, including:
- Coalition-building fundamentals: Who needs to be at the table (and who's missing)?
- Strategies for building intergenerational coalitions that center young voices
- Messaging that works across the political spectrum
- Multiple pathways to policy success: legislative vs. administrative strategies
- Translating lessons learned across state lines
- Coalition roles beyond the campaign: Who implements, who supports, who holds systems accountable?

To learn more about Climate Education policy, take a look at the Climate Education Policy Toolkit created by the North American Association for Environmental Education. This toolkit helps users navigate the diverse landscape of state and local climate education policy.
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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.
What: A youth-led, day-long gathering focused on climate justice and solutions.
Why: 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. Climate action planning will be central to the summit and youth will leave with actionable next steps.
Who: Chicago area high school students! Registration will be 5 students + 1-2 teachers from each school, though individuals are welcome to join as well. The conference will be created and led by youth with adult support. The planning team is working to create an engaging, relevant, and accessible event.
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.
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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.
Below are some ideas to reduce your daily plastic use:
- 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.
- To cover foods for storage, use items that can be reused, such as beeswax wraps or food-grade silicone covers.
| | Celebrating this year's Illinois Green Schools 
Project participants | | |
The IL Green Schools Project is an annual sustainability action and recognition program for 
K-12 schools in Illinois that engages students and school stakeholders in hands-on projects that improve health, efficiency, and environmental impact. This year, schools across Illinois conducted a variety of sustainability projects around energy, waste, green spaces, education, and more.
Read about this year's projects HERE and get inspired to start a project at your own school. Applications for next year's cohort will open in August.
| | One Earth Film Festival's Young Filmmakers 
Contest 2026 | |
Students ages 8 through 25 are invited to submit their short environmental films to the Young Filmmakers Contest by June 25. Film topics vary depending on age level. Submissions must share and highlight solutions to the issues discussed in the chosen sustainability topic(s). Scholarship awards, prizes, and matching grants (from $100 to $1000) are on offer for 3- to 8- minute films or 45+ second animations.
| | Center for Green Schools: Psychology of Behavior Change for Zero Waste Schools | | |
The Center for Green Schools has released Psychology of Behavior Change for Zero Waste Schools. Achieving zero waste in schools is not simply an operational challenge, it also requires understanding the behaviors that influence everyday waste sorting decisions. This resource explores how behavioral science, habits, social norms, and environmental design can help make sustainable choices easier and more consistent for students and staff. The publication includes practical strategies for improving waste diversion in schools, along with district case studies that highlight successful approaches and lessons learned.
| | | 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 10.
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.
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Green Teacher Gathering
June 24, Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638
This event welcomes all people interested in environmental education and sustainability, including community members, gardeners, teachers, parents, school facilitators, and artists.
Center for Green Schools: Regional Indoor Air Quality Webinar
June 25, 3 - 4 pm cst
Join Brie Reed, the Center’s Regional Program Manager for the West and Southwest, for a webinar exploring the impacts of extreme heat on indoor air quality (IAQ) and what school systems can do to prepare.
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.
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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