In the spirit of eco-competitions and the new year, Grades of Green decided to host a Zero Waste Week Challenge between our Los Angeles and New York-based offices to see which group could create the least amount of waste over the first week of 2018! Both offices collected all of their trash and recyclables to be weighed and the number of pieces to be counted at the end of the week.



After conducting a litter audit report, we decided that there was a tie between both offices!




Although the Los Angeles office had less weight, the New York office had less pieces of trash. Both office teams utilized eco-friendly strategies such as buying food in bulk, using reusable items, attending farmers markets, and refusing single use items when possible. Check out the stats below:





Los Angles


# pieces: 60+

Weight: 1.5 pounds


New York


# pieces: 48


Weight: 4.5 pounds




Interested in creating a zero-waste movement? Tune into Grades of Green’s live Facebook webinar on February 1st to learn how you can start a movement of your own!

At Grades of Green, we love a good eco-competition. Each school year, we host our Trash Free Lunch Challenge to see which school in southern California can be the best at reducing its lunchtime waste. In addition, we host our Water Challenge every semester to see which school across the globe can be the best at reducing its water usage. In the spirit of eco-competitions and the new year, Grades of Green decided to host a Zero Waste Week Challenge between our Los Angeles and New York-based offices to see which office could create the least amount of waste over the first week of 2018!



Here were the rules of Grades of Green’s Zero Waste Challenge Week:

1. Collect all single-use packaging and containers in a collection bin at the office and a bin at home.

2. Wash out all dirty containers before putting them in the bin.

3.Recyclable single-use containers are still counted as waste and should be collected. Why? Recycling takes up our natural resources, and only a small percentage of what is put in the recycling actually ends up being recycled. Only 9% of plastic waste is actually recycled!

4. Food waste can be composted and doesn’t count in the Challenge.

5. Sanitary items (such as toilet paper) don’t count in the Challenge.



Which office do you think won the Zero Waste Week Challenge, Los Angeles or New York? Check out our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) on Tuesday, January 16 to find out which Grades of Green office will earn the title of Zero Waste Week Challenge champions! Feeling inspired? Check out Grades of Green’s Waste Activities and encourage your school community to go zero waste too!