May 13, 2026
Help make trash a thing of the past
We're on a mission to reduce waste as much as possible as quickly as possible, join us!
The Zero Waste Starter Series
Get 5 emails with practical steps, helpful frameworks, and the data behind what actually works.
I want to reduce my grocery budget, and my carbon budget.
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Samuel
Joined about 1 month ago
I avoid waste in all parts of my life, leading me to recycling, reusing, and reducing. Scio Township is making this easier for me.
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Emily T.
Joined about 5 hours ago
To avoid adding to landfills.
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Susan S.
Joined about 7 hours ago
If we all only ate sustainably, there is more than enough food for everyone on the planet so I want to make sure I consume only what is needed for a healthy body and encourage others to not overeat as well. We can reduce the need for excess agribusiness if we all only eat what we need.
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Lisabeth
Joined 1 day ago
We are killing planet earth with all of our waste that does not decompose and stays around for decades. I try to re-use and recycle everything I can!
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Beth L.
Joined 1 day ago
I'd love to learn how to use more of my food like making carrot top pesto etc.! Looking forward to the challenge :)
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Lydia
Joined about 1 month ago
Trying to be a better steward of the planet and for future generations.
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Dave s.
Joined 4 days ago
I care about food waste because it contributes so largely to methane emitted from landfills!
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Mary N.
Joined 6 days ago
I want to learn how to use more of my food by making pesto out of carrot tops and that kind of thing! Excited to learn more.
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Lydia
Joined 4 months ago
Joining the challenge introduces me to new and incremental changes I can make to reduce waste.
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Jennifer
Joined 3 months ago
Saving money, food and the planet. Eating more consciously. Learning.
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Olas
Joined about 3 hours ago
We all need to work together to protect our Earth for generations to come. This is part of my contribution to protect.
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Ann V.
Joined about 4 hours ago
Reducing waste and living eco-friendly is just the right way to do it. I pride myself on how little actual trash I have each week. I love the Scio compost drop off.
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Zach N.
Joined 1 day ago
I think that I can do better every time I take the garbage out and see others’ garbage cans. We can do better!
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Scott
Joined 1 day ago
To live better within planetary boundaries.
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Samuel
Joined 4 months ago
I care a lot about the future of my community, especially for my young son who will inherit it. I know sustainable choices are a big part of it, as are advocacy by folks like those who run the ESTF and by Zero Waste generally!
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Molly M.
Joined 2 days ago
I want to see my food waste minimized AND going directly into compost, which means it goes back into the food chain, rather than creating methane in the landfill.
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Cathy J.
Joined 6 days ago
We need to remove all we can from the waste stream going to the landfill.
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Bob
Joined 6 days ago
I've been curious about zero-waste for a while, but I don't know where to start
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Shaun
Joined 3 months ago
I want to be more cognizant of the impact my actions have on our environment. Joining the zero waste challenge is helping me learn and stay motivated to reduce my waste
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Gwenny
Joined 3 months ago
What you can do
Start Small, Start Now
Zero waste isn't about being perfect — it's about feeling capable and curious. These are real programs running in Ann Arbor right now, with real people and measurable results.
Swap Shop
Browse zero waste product swaps with real prices and annual savings. Try one this week — most save money.
Browse all swaps →Volunteer
Events, outreach, advocacy, design, fundraising — there's a role for every kind of person. Sign up for shifts that fit your schedule.
Find your role →Donate
Fund the programs, tools, and data that prove waste reduction works.
Support our work →Your sphere of influence
Change starts where you are and ripples outward. We're here to help you find your best next step at every level.
You
Your daily habits — what you buy, how you cook, what you throw away. This is where most people start, and where the biggest personal impact lives.
Your Community
Your workplace, school, or neighborhood. Organize a challenge, start a composting program, or get your office to ditch single-use plastics.
The System
Policy, advocacy, and the systems that shape what's possible. Push for better reuse infrastructure, packaging regulations, and corporate accountability.
Our Approach
Reduction first.
Everything else follows.
Deforestation, plastic in the ocean, climate change — all driven by overconsumption. Reduction is the only strategy that works at every stage.
We focus here
Extraction
Production
Transport
Consumption
Waste
We focus here
Extraction
Production
Transport
Consumption
Waste
Less in → less out.
TEDx Talk
The zero waste movement
Where we're going
Building a model for waste reduction
Waste generation in the U.S. has been increasing since 1960, and our goal is to reverse that trend, starting in Ann Arbor.
We're piloting programs that enable people, businesses, and institutions to build a movement that can move the needle on waste, and demonstrate a model that makes national waste reduction possible.
Now — Ann Arbor
Waste reduction programs, zero waste events, community organizing, and neighborhood-level data collection. Building towards statistically significant waste reduction in Ann Arbor.
Next — Test Replication
Expand the work to 2–5 additional cities, building the infrastructure needed to scale waste reduction programs.
Later — Scale
Partner with cities ready to run the playbook. Aiming for a 10% reduction in US waste by 2040.
Latest from Our Blog
Tips, stories, and resources for your zero waste journey.
This work is funded by
people who believe in it.
Every dollar funds programs, tools, and data that prove waste reduction works — and make it replicable.