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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.
| | SGA Webinar Series: Rescuing Food and Feeding Students with Share Tables | | |
Join Seven Generations Ahead for part two of our webinar series! On March 17th at
2 pm cst, Zero Waste Schools (ZWS) presents “Rescuing Food and Feeding Students with Share Tables.” Attendees will learn from a panel of experts who will share practical advice on how to safely and easily set up share tables in K-12 schools. Attendees will learn key tips to bridge the gap between their schools and local health departments, as well as practical implementation strategies.
We hope you can join us on March 17th! To register, click HERE.
Download a flyer to share HERE.
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Spring is here and so is spring cleaning! As the weather warms up and the snow melts, it is a great time to get kids involved in a clean-up event. Picking up litter around their schools and neighborhoods gives children the opportunity to be environmental stewards of their own community.
The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County has resources to help get you started on your clean-up journey. Member communities can apply to SWANCC for up to $200 worth of supplies.
Some tips for an effective clean-up:
- Plan a time after school or during a club so that students can participate
- Purchase trash grabbers
- Purchase reusable buckets for collection instead of plastic bags
- Remember to take pictures of your clean-up activity
- Record what you collect to show your impact
- Make sure to separate any clean recyclables so they can get properly recycled
Our animals, waterways, green spaces, and personal well-being are all impacted by pollution. By hosting a clean-up event, kids will see the impact of this pollution firsthand and know that they are making a difference in their community.
| | Plastic Free Lunch Day is next month! | | |
The biannual Plastic Free Lunch Day (PFLD) is coming up on April 20-24! PFLD, presented by Cafeteria Culture and the Urban School Food Alliance, is an easy way for schools to reduce disposable packaging and foodware. Schools can participate for one day, a couple days, or the whole week.
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Share this video to get your school excited for PFLD.
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Share this video with kitchen staff to help them prepare plastic-free menus.
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Host a free screening of Microplastic Madness to engage students.
Consider implementing these easy changes to reduce plastic and save your school money:
- Replace single-use condiment packets with bulk service of sauces/dressings.
- Serve finger-foods to eliminate the need for utensils.
- Wrap sandwiches in bulk (put in serving trays with an aluminum foil cover instead of individually wrapped with plastic film).
Read HERE to learn more about the campaign.
| | One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest
is seeking submissions | |
The One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest (non-profit) is free for students to enter, and prizes go from $100 to $1,000 in scholarships, plus matching gifts.
We would love to see submissions from your students so they may have a chance to be honored this year!
We invite students from age 8 to age 25 to submit their short, environmental films to the Young Filmmakers Contest by June 25, 2026.
- Winning films will be screened in Chicago on Sept. 27, 2026, and/or at the One Earth Film Festival in April 2027.
- Scholarships, prizes, and matching grants (from $100 to $1000) will be awarded for 3 to 8-minute films or 45+ second animations.
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Visit One Earth Film Festival Young Filmmakers Contest for details and to see past winners, visit our winners page.
This two-minute video explains what the Young Filmmakers Contest is all about.
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International Compost Awareness Week 2026
May 3-9
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This year’s International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) theme, “Compost! Feed the Soil that Feeds Us," highlights the vital role compost plays in sustaining life on land. Soil is the foundation of life. It grows the food we eat, filters the water we drink, and sustains the biodiversity that keeps our ecosystems in balance. Yet soil is also one of our most threatened resources, with erosion, topsoil & nutrient depletion, and contamination endangering soil health worldwide.
The Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition (IFSCC) is inviting communities, schools, governments, and businesses to raise awareness about the importance of composting by hosting educational events. Libraries and schools are a great place to introduce young people to composting and its many benefits. Start planning an event at your school or library by using this helpful guide.
| | 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 | | |
Plastic Free Restaurants Plastic Free Restaurants is dedicated to eliminating single-use petroleum-based products in everyday foodware. Plastic products are not only harmful to the environment but also human health. Their 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.
ComEd Green Region Grant Now in its fourteenth year, the ComEd Green Region Grant awards grants of up to $10,000 for conservation projects in Northern Illinois. Continuing this year, non-profits and educational agencies can apply for a grant with a letter of support from a government agency in their community. Apply by Mar. 13.
Salad Bars to Schools (SB2S): Expanding Access to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables in
School Meals
The Salad Bars to Schools (SB2S) program is a national granting initiative that equips schools and districts with salad bar equipment and support. Awarded schools receive Cambro salad bars, camchillers, and ongoing technical assistance to strengthen their school meal programs. Open to K–12 school districts with an enrollment of at least 100 students per school site that participate in the National School Lunch Program. Apply by Mar. 31.
The Chicago Conservation Corps is currently recruiting for its Spring 2026 Food Sustainability Leadership Training. This unique training will focus on the sustainability of our local food system and will examine critical issues like food access, sustainable agriculture, and how to lower the greenhouse gas emissions associated with our food. This training will also explore how we all can support Chicago’s growing urban agriculture and food rescue initiatives. Apply by Mar. 31.
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Hold the Plastic: How to Get This Toxic Material Out of Student Meals
Mar. 12, 3-4 pm cst
Join Alison Rogers Cove, USEFULL founder and CEO, Dr. Manasa Mantravadi, Ahimsa founder and CEO, Judith Enck, Beyond Plastics president and former US EPA Regional Administrator, and Trisha Vaidyanathan, Ph.D., Beyond Plastics science director to learn more about the health and economic case for reusable stainless steel foodware in school cafeterias.
The Plant: Reuse-a-palooza!
Mar. 15, 11 - 3 pm, 1400 W 46th St, Chicago, IL
This semiannual event provides opportunities to repair clothing and household items, safely dispose tricky-to-recycle items, and donate bicycles, clothing, and more, all the while bringing attention to strategies to reduce waste and improve environmental conditions.
2026 Blueberry Awards Announcement
Mar. 20, 6:30 - 8:15 pm, Evanston Ecology Center
The Blueberry Awards Committee, Evanston Public Library and Evanston Ecology Center cordially invite you to the 5th Annual Blueberry Awards Announcement Party! Come see the 2025 Blueberry award-winning books and listen to videos from Blueberry award-winning authors and illustrators.
Green Spark 2026: National Students Solutions Showcase
April 24
Green Spark 2026 is a nationwide virtual showcase celebrating K-12 students who are turning their ideas into real solutions for people and the planet. On Friday, April 24, 2026, students and educators from every state will log in for a day of creativity and action through three live sessions that fit any school schedule.
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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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