March 29, 2026
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Samuel
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'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 3 days ago
I care about food waste because it contributes so largely to methane emitted from landfills!
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Mary N.
Joined 4 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
I want to reduce my environmental impact because I think that it is important to be mindful of our planet.
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Annalise
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
i care deeply about the earth and its inhabitants
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Emerson
Joined 3 months ago
I want to reduce my environmental impact because change starts with us! You start changing the world by changing your world: one piece of trash, one commitment, one day at a time.
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Elena
Joined 3 months ago
Small actions can add up, and if we want this planet to be around for future generations this is the least I can do.
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Eliana
Joined 3 months 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 about 19 hours 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 4 days ago
We need to remove all we can from the waste stream going to the landfill.
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Bob
Joined 4 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 2 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
I'm looking for new ways to reduce my environmental impact and promote a circular economy, and love learning about these topics :)
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Sonomi
Joined 3 months ago
I think that this is a great challenge to bring more people into learning about how to live a more sustainable lifestyle in a fun way!
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Charlotte
Joined 3 months ago
I want to reduce my environmental impact to help beautify Ann Arbor
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Ale
Joined 3 months ago
I want to reduce my environmental impact because I love the Earth
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Flannery
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.