The results are in, and Grades of Green is thrilled to share the 7th annual Trash Free Lunch Challenge final report! Click here for the report which includes a summary detailing the success of each participating Los Angeles school, and highlights from this year. Collectively, the 2017-2018 Trash Free Lunch Challenge has educated and inspired over 13,000 students on how to reduce, reuse, recycle and rot (compost); saved schools over $11,500 by reducing trash bag liners used and waste hauler fees; and empowered participating schools to divert over 46,300 bags of trash, or 463 tons from the landfill.  That’s the same weight as 116 African elephants! On average, this year’s schools diverted 65% of their lunch waste from the landfills, and winning schools reduced their waste by over 80%.

This program would not be possible without the support of our amazing sponsors. We thank the following:  Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, Lush Cosmetics, Northrop Grumman,  LA Kings Care Foundation, Los Angeles County 4th District, the Carton Council, and the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation.

Inspired and interested in starting an environmental movement in your school or community? Sign up for Grades of Green’s Water Campaign kicking off in August 2018! Email info@gradesofgreen.org for more information.

Did you know plastic trash and particles are not only found in remote gyre accumulation areas like the Pacific garbage patch, but also in most marine and terrestrial habitats like beaches and coral reefs?




Algalita, an environmental organization dedicated to ending plastic pollution, will be hosting a brand new youth event this summer – the POPS Innovation Forum. The Innovation Forum will be for youth ages 15-25 who are interested in learning more about and have innovative ideas for addressing plastic pollution through design, technological innovation, engineering, science, and alternative business models.

The event will be held in Long Beach, CA on August 3-5, 2018 and is free to accepted attendees. Applications are open until June 30, 2018. Click here to apply!

Interested in developing a solution to a local water issue in your community? Click here to learn more about Grades of Green’s Water Campaign!

Grades of Green would not be possible without the support of people that care about the environment and want to help make a difference. Each year, Grades of Green hosts VERTE to raise funds for our programs and each year we have different live auction items that our supporters can bid on. This year, one of our live auction item experiences included a Costa Rica Adventure donated by Bodhi Surf + Yoga. This one-of-a-kind experience included weeklong, holistic, and well-rounded surf and yoga camps in none other than the beautiful Costa Rica! All of the proceeds from this item will go to supporting students within our programs, like our Water and Waste Campaigns.



Grades of Green is excited to inspire and empower kids around the globe to advocate for improving waste and water issues in their community. We plan on doing this through our Water and Waste Campaigns where we will continue to work one-on-one with student groups around the world to research water or waste issues in their community, come up with some innovative solutions to those environmental issues, and then educate their community on how to implement those solutions. This fall, Grades of Green will be working with student groups to develop customized water quality and water conservation solutions. Any student in grades 6th – 12th can participate for free, and the programs will be open to school groups, after school programs, sports teams, community teams, and more! The winning campaign teams will also receive a $500 grant to go toward expanding their innovative water solutions, and one grand prize winner will receive a $1,000 grant.




If you are interested in joining either of these movements, email us at info@gradesofgreen.org for more information on how you can get involved. Looking to get inspired? Here’s a video example from a past Water Campaign Team! When you’re ready to join our Water Campaign, click here to register.