Terms of Use

ZeroWaste.Org

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

Agreement to Terms

By accessing or using the ZeroWaste.Org website and services ("Services"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Services.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and ZeroWaste.Org ("we," "us," or "our"), a nonprofit organization dedicated to waste reduction education and community action.

Description of Services

ZeroWaste.Org provides educational resources, community programs, and tools to help individuals and communities reduce waste. Our Services include:

  • Educational content about waste reduction and sustainability
  • Community waste reduction programs and challenges
  • Pledge and commitment tracking tools
  • Resources for neighborhood and community organizing
  • Impact tracking and reporting

Account Registration

Creating an Account

To access certain features of our Services, you may need to create an account. You may register using:

  • Email and password
  • Google Sign-In (OAuth)

Account Responsibilities

When creating an account, you agree to:

  • Provide accurate and complete information
  • Maintain the security of your account credentials
  • Promptly update your information if it changes
  • Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account
  • Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

Account Termination

You may delete your account at any time by contacting us or using the account settings feature (when available). We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

Google Sign-In

If you choose to sign in using Google, you authorize us to access and use certain information from your Google account as described in our Privacy Policy. Your use of Google Sign-In is also subject to Google's Terms of Service.

We comply with Google's API Services User Data Policy and only access the minimum information necessary to provide our Services.

Acceptable Use

Permitted Uses

You may use our Services for lawful purposes related to learning about and participating in waste reduction efforts.

Prohibited Uses

You agree not to:

  • Use the Services for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable laws
  • Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity
  • Interfere with or disrupt the Services or servers connected to the Services
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Services or any systems or networks connected to the Services
  • Use automated systems (bots, scrapers, etc.) to access the Services without our written permission
  • Transmit any viruses, malware, or other harmful code
  • Harass, abuse, or harm other users
  • Use the Services to send spam or unsolicited communications
  • Collect or harvest information about other users without their consent
  • Use the Services in any manner that could damage, disable, or impair the Services

User Content

Your Content

You may have the opportunity to submit content to our Services, such as comments, pledges, and participation data ("User Content"). You retain ownership of your User Content.

By submitting User Content, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, display, and distribute your User Content in connection with our Services and mission. This includes the right to use anonymized and aggregated data to report on collective waste reduction impact.

Content Standards

User Content must not:

  • Be false, misleading, or deceptive
  • Be defamatory, obscene, or offensive
  • Infringe on any intellectual property rights
  • Contain personal information about others without their consent
  • Violate any applicable law or regulation

We reserve the right to remove any User Content that violates these Terms.

Intellectual Property

Our Content

The Services and their original content (excluding User Content), features, and functionality are owned by ZeroWaste.Org and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

Our name, logo, and all related names, logos, product and service names, designs, and slogans are trademarks of ZeroWaste.Org. You may not use such marks without our prior written permission.

Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Services for personal, non-commercial purposes in accordance with these Terms.

Educational Materials

Educational materials provided through our Services may be used and shared for non-commercial, educational purposes with appropriate attribution to ZeroWaste.Org, unless otherwise indicated.

Third-Party Links and Services

Our Services may contain links to third-party websites, services, or resources. We do not control and are not responsible for:

  • The content, privacy policies, or practices of third-party sites
  • Any damage or loss caused by your use of third-party services

Your use of third-party services is at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of those services.

Disclaimers

Services Provided "As Is"

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

No Professional Advice

Information provided through our Services is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. We do not guarantee that following our recommendations will achieve any particular results.

Availability

We do not guarantee that the Services will be available at all times or that they will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free.

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ZEROWASTE.ORG AND ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

  • Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
  • Any loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses
  • Any damages resulting from your use or inability to use the Services
  • Any damages resulting from unauthorized access to or alteration of your data

IN NO EVENT SHALL OUR TOTAL LIABILITY EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US, IF ANY, IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100), WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless ZeroWaste.Org and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of:

  • Your use of the Services
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of any rights of another party
  • Your User Content

Modifications to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. When we make changes:

  • We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of these Terms
  • We will notify you of material changes via email or through a prominent notice on our website
  • Your continued use of the Services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms

If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you should discontinue your use of the Services.

Modifications to Services

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Services at any time, with or without notice. We shall not be liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Services.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Dispute Resolution

Any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of the Services shall first be attempted to be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association, except that either party may seek injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Class Action Waiver

You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action.

General Provisions

Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and ZeroWaste.Org regarding your use of the Services.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights hereunder without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations under these Terms without restriction.

Notices

We may provide notices to you via email, posting on our website, or other reasonable means. You may provide notices to us at the contact information below.

Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us:

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

By using ZeroWaste.Org, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use.