UMich Zero Waste Challenge

4th annual Zero Waste Week Challenge at the University of Michigan.

1,219 people have joined the challenge so far!

I've been curious about zero-waste for a while, but I don't know where to start

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Shaun Joined 1 day ago

I want to be able to act as a model for what it looks like to commit to creating less waste within our environements.

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Dara Joined 17 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental impact because I want to do my part in this movement toward a cleaner planet!

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Elinor Joined 11 days ago

We all live in this world together

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Alex Joined 14 days ago

It could help influence other people who might influence more people and so on.

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Alex Joined 11 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental impact because I want to reduce the amount of garbage that I produce and throw away.

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Ashley Joined 18 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental impact so we don’t ruin our planet

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Cole Joined 12 days ago

I want to live a life that reflects my concern for our environment

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Ana Joined 12 days ago

keeps me more financially conscious

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Jayson Joined 12 days ago

Landfills are filling way too fast! I reuse or share as many of my things as possible.

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Sharon Joined 14 days ago

I believe it’s important to live environmentally friendly for the earth where all living things share its sources for good!

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Nina Joined 11 days ago

I want to make the world a better place for myself and people in the future!!

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Kat Joined 27 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental impact because I want to create a better world for future generations and take care of the earth!

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Jack Joined 11 days ago

Because I am a sustainability minor and I love the planet

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Seally Joined 12 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental impact because the natural world deserves our help

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Nai Joined 13 days ago

I want to reduce my waste to help create an overall cleaner and longer lasting world.

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Lydia Joined 15 days ago

I think it is the right thing to do!

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Charlie Joined 11 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental impact because I have pets, and many animals that live in the wild suffer due to the impacts that humans have on the environment. I want to make sure that my actions don't affect the suffering of wild animals.

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Emmarose Joined 12 days ago

Small actions can add up, and if we want this planet to be around for future generations this is the least I can do.

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Eliana Joined 16 days ago

I want to have a smaller environmental impact on the earth

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Olivia Joined 9 days ago

I've been consciously living my life in a less wasteful way as long as I can remember. It makes me feel good knowing at least I'm doing my part preserving the planet we live in. Saving $ along the way is a bonus

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Charlene Joined 10 days ago

I joined the zero waste challenge because I wanted to meet colleagues who shared a similar strive in reducing their environmental impact, while implementing a more sustainable lifestyle through hands-on exposure to these efforts.

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Ling Z. Joined 12 days ago

I am part of a broader group of students and I believe great change can occur when many people make minor changes to everyday habits.

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Samuel Joined 10 days ago

I want to join a larger effort to reduce waste and notice my individual impact more!

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Helen Joined 18 days ago

Why not!? I know I won't succeed at all the challenges, but I also know it'll be better than not trying!

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Ariel Joined 15 days ago

Every single-use product not consumed and wasted, is one less single use product that interferes with a natural ecosystem

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Anna Joined 22 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental impact because I care about the future of the planet!

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Sarah Joined 7 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental impact to support my planet and to support RHA.

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Nora Joined 9 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental impact because change starts with us! You start changing the world by changing your world: one piece of trash, one commitment, one day at a time.

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Elena Joined 22 days ago

I want the planet to be livable and beautiful for the future generations <3

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Rhea Joined 18 days ago

I want to be a good example to my nephews. They're trash goblins.

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Monica Joined 17 days ago

I want to limit waste to save animals!

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Julia Joined 7 days ago

We deserve a better future and don’t have to live in a society that centers capitalism

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Allie Joined 16 days ago

I want to save the world not hurt it

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Sam Joined 16 days ago

I want to help reduce waste

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Sofia Joined 7 days ago

I want reduce my environmental impact for our planet 🌎

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Amy Joined 15 days ago

I joined this challenge because it feels nice to be held accountable for my own actions and also know there are people like me trying to make this planet last longer.

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Prabhleen Joined 7 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental impact because I love the Earth

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Flannery Joined 16 days ago

I want to learn more creative ways to reduce waste and help my friends and family do so too!

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Paul Joined 15 days ago

I want to learn more about reducing my waste impact because I know I have a lot to learn!

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Kaci Joined 20 days ago

I want to reduce my overall footprint and impact on the planet.

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Will Joined 10 days ago

We live in a planet with finite resources and literally can’t survive doing what we’ve been doing!

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Danielle Joined about 1 month ago

Live a more sustainable lifestyle, and encourage others to do the same.

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Yohan Joined about 1 month ago

While the majority of environmental impacts are made by large scale organizations (corporations, etc), individual action can still be useful. I think some action is better than none, and life defined outside of consumption and more intentional is richer.

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Helen Joined 27 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental impact because it is my duty to be conscientious about my choices and their consequences

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Kate Joined about 1 month ago

I want to create a cleaner future!

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Hudson Joined 18 days ago

we need to!

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Fime Joined 10 days ago

Growing up near the Grand River I knew that keeping it clean was important to keeping my neighbors and nature healthy

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Lena Joined 19 days ago

I want to learn how to reduce my consumption and waste

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Alyssa Joined 12 days ago

To continue focusing my on my consumption habits in an effort to further reduce them.

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Jason Joined 28 days ago

I am very conscious of my contribution to pollution and always try to keep it as minimal as possible.

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Hana Joined 24 days ago

I think that preserving the environment is important!

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Siena Joined 27 days ago

i care deeply about the earth and its inhabitants

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Emerson Joined 22 days ago

To become a more aware person of my waste

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Trianna Joined 22 days ago

I want to do more to leave less of a footprint.

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Lydia Joined 22 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental impact because I think that it is important to be mindful of our planet.

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Annalise Joined 18 days ago

I am joining the zero waste challenge because I want to make the world a better place. I love being outside and I want to preserve the beautiful planet that we live on!

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Emily Joined 22 days ago

I want to reduce the amount of waste I create because I’m worried about our environment and want to be more conscious of my impact!

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Izzy Joined 22 days ago

To be more conscious about waste and to become a more sustainable person.

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Alyssa Joined 22 days ago

I want my children to have a healthy world to live in.

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Aleena Joined 7 days ago

I aim to reduce my waste in order to contribute towards a healthy, safe environment free of unnecessary waste.

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Karlee Joined 18 days ago

our campus needs more focus on zero-waste actions!

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Elisa Joined 17 days ago

I want to leave the earth a better place than what I grew up with.

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olivia Joined 17 days ago

I want to reduce my environment impact because I’m scared for our future!! Puxatony Phil can only handle so many more weeks of winter

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Madi Joined 16 days ago

I want to help the planet.

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Emily Joined 16 days ago

I want to have fun and do my best

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Harrison Joined 16 days ago

I want to lower my carbon footprint to help fight climate change!

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Eshaal Joined 16 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental waste so that I can make sure I am contributing to a better and cleaner Earth !

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Summer Joined 16 days ago

I think it’s important to keep our environment habitable for other nature and future generations!

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Harshitha Joined 13 days ago

It will make the earth a better place for generations to come.

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Judy Joined 13 days ago

i want to do my part in reducing global warming

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Lilly Joined 15 days ago

I like trash.

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Hessa Joined 15 days ago

I'm looking for new ways to reduce my environmental impact and promote a circular economy, and love learning about these topics :)

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Sonomi Joined 18 days ago

I want to take better care of the Earth and reverse/slow the process of losing my home, Long Island

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Lauren Joined 17 days ago

Learn more about ways to ensure a sustainable future for all life. Practice and grow my sustainable low energy personal daily life habits.

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Dennis Joined about 1 month ago

Nature is beautiful and trash is ugly

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Sophia Joined 11 days ago

I like saving the planet

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Luke Joined about 1 month ago

I am joining this challenge because we seriously need to reduce our waste production if we don't want to drown in trash soon!

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Gala Joined 12 days ago

It's important we all play a role in protecting the environment.

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Meghan Joined 12 days ago

I want to reduce my environmental impact because I want children in the future to be able to enjoy the forests and trees and animals like I did when I was a kid

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Alex Joined 22 days ago

I want to reduce waste in my community and give back!

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Tiffany Joined 12 days ago

Because going zero waste is probably one of the ONLY effective sustainability campaigns I've come across so far, which is "manageable difficult" and has a real impact.

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Param Joined about 1 month ago

I've embraced this activisim on my own since I heard about it. I'm attending this year to get more connected to the community and not feeling alone!

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Esther Joined 11 days ago

why not?! i’d like to work to reduce the amount of waste i produce

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Emma Joined 8 days ago

How It Works

One week. Avoid what you can. Save what you can't. See what you learn.

Do Your Best

Do your best to avoid creating trash and recycling for one week. We'll send you daily tips and ideas to help.

Collect What's Left

Keep any waste you do create in a bag or box. No shame — it's just data. You'll be surprised what you find.

Reflect & Share

Look through what you collected and discover which zero waste steps are most relevant to your life. Earn points toward prizes.

It's not about being perfect — it's about paying attention.

Why Zero Waste?

Learn how to take concrete action on waste and climate issues

Waste isn't just about trash. From extraction to disposal, our materials economy sits at the root of climate change and environmental breakdown. Learn what you can do in your own life to reduce waste and build momentum for a zero waste future at the university and in Ann Arbor.

5 Resource-Packed Emails

Tips to get you started on your zero waste journey

Zero Waste Events

Join us throughout the week for hands-on activities

Expert-Led

U of M alums with 9+ years of zero waste experience

Featured Prizes

$25 to The Getup Vintage

Donated by The Getup Vintage

Bundtlet for a Year Card

A year of free buntlets (1/month) worth $75

Donated by Nothing Bunt Cakes

Free Backpack from Bivouac

Donated by Bivouac

5-Class Package ($120 Value)

Donated by Polarity Fitness

$10 M-36 Gift Card

Donated by M-36 Coffee

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is the challenge?
Do your best to avoid trash and recycling for one week and collect any waste you do create to review at the end of the week. It's about awareness and learning, not perfection!
What counts as waste?
Any new thing you acquire during the week, including wrappers, bags, containers, receipts, and food scraps (if you don't have access to a compost).
Are there any exceptions?
Yes! Waste from your work and waste associated with medical needs don't count. Keep yourself healthy and continue taking any medication you need to feel your best, without worrying about the trash.
What if I make mistakes?
That's totally fine! This challenge is about learning and building awareness, not being perfect. Every bit of effort counts, and we're all learning together.
How do I earn points and win prizes?
Earn points by completing actions, attending events, and participating in the scavenger hunt. The more you engage, the more entries you get for our prize drawings!