North Carolina silhouette

Dedicated to promoting waste-conscious living in North Carolina through inspiration, education, and action.

Learn about our current TZW programs below!

  • SHARE Program Logo, Stop Hunger and Restore Earth
Zero Waste Trash Jar
Trash Jar

What does it mean to be Zero Waste?

It’s not really about a jar (seriously!).

Instead, think of Zero Waste as a goal to always being ‘Waste Conscious’. Becoming aware of the waste that we create, combined with the conscious effort to reduce it, is an empowering step to the reduction of overall waste in our communities. By moving ‘Toward Zero Waste’ together, we can decrease landfill space, our carbon footprint on the Earth, and have a positive effect on the environment and our future.

Our Zero Waste Vision:

Toward Zero Waste North Carolina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that envisions a state free of unnecessary waste, where individuals, families, businesses, and local governments are mindful of the resources they use, the waste they create, and emissions they produce; where reuse, refill, repair, composting, renewable energy, and zeroing emissions are the norm. We see a North Carolina where Zero Waste is no longer a concept, but the culture of our community!

Our Impact

Compostable Tray Project:

Over 475,000 styrofoam trays diverted from the landfill!

SHARE Program:

An estimated 7,380 food items donated in one school year!

Community Compost Food Scraps:

Midtown Farmers Market: 12,685 lbs Town of Cary: 492,390 lbs

Greenish Neighbor logo

Looking for a way to support local North Carolina green business?

Greenish Neighbor and Toward Zero Waste are partnering to provide the NC Green Business Directory. Find out how you can support your local green businesses!

Toward Zero Waste Makers Group Logo

Interested in becoming a maker?

Our makers group tackles zero waste by making their own, repurposing, repairing, and teaching others.

Recent Posts From Our Blog

  • The SHARE (Stop Hunger And Restore Earth) pilot program has been rolled out to all 8 elementary schools with remarkable success! For those who don’t know, the SHARE program is [...]

    By Published On: March 28th, 2025
  • July 5, 2024. It's a date that, well, most Americans probably paid little attention to. Whether they marked it or not, however, it's a date that may have a [...]

    By Published On: August 26th, 2024
  • As an 11th grade student at Raleigh-based public school Athens Drive High School, I’ve learned to acclimate to some strange teenage behaviors and social norms. Yet what has never [...]

    By Published On: June 12th, 2024

Watch us on YouTube

See our new podcast series: Teens Talk Trash!

Our first episode discusses biomimicry in relation to sustainability.

You can also listen to this podcast on our new spotify account!

Find us on Social Media