Privacy Policy

ZeroWaste.Org

Effective Date: February 2nd, 2026
Last Updated: February 2nd, 2026

Introduction

ZeroWaste.Org ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share your information when you use our website and services at ZeroWaste.Org.

By using our services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide

When you use our services, you may provide us with:

  • Account Information: Name, email address, and other information you provide when creating an account or signing up for our programs.
  • Communication Data: Information you provide when contacting us, participating in surveys, or engaging with our community programs.
  • Program Participation Data: Information related to your participation in waste reduction programs, pledges, and commitments.

Information Collected Through Google Sign-In

If you choose to sign in using Google OAuth, we receive the following information from your Google account:

  • Basic Profile Information: Your name and email address.
  • Profile Picture: Your Google account profile picture (if available).

We only request the minimum information necessary to create and manage your account. We do not access your Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, or any other Google services beyond basic profile information.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

  • Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, and interactions with our content.
  • Device Information: Browser type, operating system, and device type.
  • Log Data: IP address, access times, and referring URLs.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Create and manage your account
  • Provide, maintain, and improve our services
  • Communicate with you about our programs, updates, and community initiatives
  • Track participation in waste reduction programs and measure collective impact
  • Respond to your inquiries and provide support
  • Analyze usage patterns to improve user experience
  • Comply with legal obligations

We do not use your information for advertising, marketing to third parties, or any purpose unrelated to providing and improving our waste reduction services.

Google User Data

Limited Use Disclosure

ZeroWaste.Org's use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including the Limited Use requirements.

Specifically, we:

  • Only use Google user data to provide and improve user-facing features of our application
  • Do not transfer Google user data to third parties except as necessary to provide our services, comply with applicable law, or as part of a merger or acquisition with notice to users
  • Do not use Google user data for advertising purposes
  • Do not sell Google user data to third parties
  • Do not use Google user data to determine creditworthiness or for lending purposes

Data Access

We only access the Google user data that you explicitly authorize during the sign-in process. This is limited to basic profile information (name and email) needed to create your account.

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties.

We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

  • Service Providers: We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website and services (such as hosting providers and analytics services). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.
  • Aggregate Data: We may share anonymized, aggregate data about waste reduction participation and impact. This data cannot be used to identify individual users.
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request.
  • Protection of Rights: We may disclose information to protect the rights, property, or safety of ZeroWaste.Org, our users, or the public.
  • Business Transfers: If ZeroWaste.Org is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will provide notice before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

  • Encryption of data in transit using HTTPS/TLS
  • Secure storage of user credentials
  • Regular security assessments
  • Access controls limiting who can view personal data

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention and Deletion

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

Account Data: We retain your account information for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we will delete your personal information within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal or legitimate business purposes.

Usage Data: Anonymized usage data may be retained indefinitely for analytical purposes.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
  • Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information.
  • Data Portability: Request a copy of your data in a portable format.
  • Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing where consent is the legal basis.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at hello@zerowaste.org.

Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will delete such information.

In compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), we do not use Google Sign-In for users known to be under 13 years of age.

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will:

  • Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
  • Notify you via email or through a prominent notice on our website before the changes take effect
  • Request your consent to the updated policy where required by law

Your continued use of our services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

ZeroWaste.Org
Email: hello@zerowaste.org
Address: 820 Granger Ave., Ann Arbor, MI, 48104

California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to delete your information, and the right to opt out of the sale of your information. As stated above, we do not sell personal information.

To exercise your California privacy rights, please contact us at hello@zerowaste.org.

This Privacy Policy is compliant with Google's API Services User Data Policy and OAuth 2.0 requirements.