WEBINAR: Defining and Actualizing Zero Waste on College Campuses

What is zero waste, how to we break it down from an end goal to tangible concepts, and what does it take to achieve it on college campuses?

Join us from 4-5:30 pm PT/7-8:30 pm ET as we begin to unpack these questions as we are joined by Macy Zander from Upstream, and Alex Freid and Ramiro Murguia from Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN).

Upstream aims to reduce waste before it’s even produced (i.e., upstream of the consumer cycle) so that consumers are only left with the right choice being the easy choice. Upstream’s vision is for 30% of consumable goods to be sold in reusable formats in the U.S. and Canada by 2030. Upstream sees their role as: conveners, facilitators, bridge builders; content creators & knowledge curators; solutions ideators & catalysts.

The Post-Landfill Action Network (PLAN) supports students in reimagining systems beyond the Linear Consumption Economy. We equip students with the resources and tools necessary to holistically understand the Global Waste Crisis and lead solutions on their campuses. Collectively, we can build a world beyond waste.

Macy Zander (Reuse Communities Policy and Engagement Officer at Upstream) has worked on expanding green opportunities for over ten years. Her passion lies in engaging the public with issues such as zero waste, reuse, and circular economy. Macy’s talk is titled “Making Throw Away Go-Away: Prioritizing Reuse as a Solution.”

Alex Freid (Director of Atlas Zero Waste at PLAN) is determined that zero waste is possible, and loves working with students and staff on college campuses to envision what it will take to get them there. He has been involved in zero waste programs since 2010, when he and his friends started the UNH Trash 2 Treasure program. At PLAN, Alex enjoys training and inspiring students to use systems thinking and anti-oppressive facilitation strategies to move their campuses beyond the roadblocks that prevent them from achieving zero waste.

Ramiro Murguia (Director of Events at PLAN) studied Marketing and Environmental Studies at the University of South Carolina, where he led an on campus organic permaculture farm. He takes the concepts of permaculture not only as a way of farming and growing food but as a way of living our daily lives. In his spare time Ramiro likes to play soccer, learn something new, or try new foods.

Part 3 of the #EduClimate Webinar Series, brought to you by the University Climate Ambassador program