Zero Waste Youth USA

What Zero Waste Youth USA does

Zero Waste Youth USA is a San Francisco Bay Area-based nonprofit organization founded in 2013 that promotes youth engagement in zero-waste environmental activism through learning, planning, and direct action. Its flagship offering is the annual Zero Waste Youth Convergence, a multi-day conference that has run every year since 2013 and, as of March 2023, reached its tenth edition; the organization also runs monthly coastal cleanups at Alameda Point with CASA and municipal partners, free documentary film screenings with panel discussions, a Career Connections Forum hosted with the Northern California Recycling Association, and a year-round volunteer program spanning event planning, social media, and webinar development. All programs are delivered free of charge to participants, with operating costs covered by individual donations and a roster of corporate and municipal sponsors drawn primarily from Bay Area waste-management companies, county recycling authorities, and city environmental agencies.

The organization is the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the international Zero Waste Youth movement and was initiated in partnership with the Northern California Recycling Association, which serves as its advising organization. It is run entirely by volunteers with no paid staff, and operates with no proprietary technology platform — outreach and program delivery rely on the zerowasteyouthusa.org website, Instagram, Facebook, and a monthly email newsletter. Leadership is anchored by co-founders Sara Heady and Vanessa Pope, with a general planning team led operationally by volunteer coordinator Freddy Coronado.

The business model is donations- and sponsorship-based with no earned revenue from product or service fees. Events are free to attendees, and the organization conducts raffles (such as for a $1,500-value Sustainable Resource Management Professional Certification Program) rather than charging for participation. Geographic scope is regional — concentrated across the San Francisco Bay Area including Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, Alameda, San Jose, Fremont, and Marin County — with the 2020 and 2021 virtual Convergences temporarily extending reach to 65+ schools and organizations before the program returned to virtual plus in-person formats in 2023.

Name

Zero Waste Youth USA

Legal name

Zero Waste Youth USA

Website

https://zerowasteyouthusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zero Waste Youth USA is a volunteer-run, Bay Area-based nonprofit founded in 2013 that runs the annual Zero Waste Youth Convergence and supporting programs to educate and empower youth in zero-waste environmental activism, funded by donations and corporate and municipal sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Environmental Education

NAICS

Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56), Solid Waste Collection (562111)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

E-waste & Universal Waste Collection/Transfer (Electronics, Lamps, Batteries) (EUAIABAG)

Keywords

• Youth environmental education
• Zero waste advocacy
• Community volunteer programs
• Nonprofit convergence events
• Sustainability workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations: Zero Waste Youth USA relies on individual donations to support their operations. Donations help fund the annual convergence events and provide a platform for zero waste leaders and innovators to engage with youth communities and build environmental stewardship.
2. Sponsorships: The organization receives sponsorship support from waste management companies, recycling organizations, local governments, and environmental nonprofits. Sponsors contribute to the annual Zero Waste Youth Convergence events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zero Waste Youth USA is an all-volunteer nonprofit that operates the annual Zero Waste Youth Convergence conference along with supporting educational programs including film screenings, a Career Connections networking forum, volunteer opportunities, and a Green Education professional certification raffle. The organization delivers free zero waste education, leadership development, and networking opportunities for high school students, college students, and young professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Product overview

Zero Waste Youth USA is a non-profit youth organization (not a technology company) that operates a single primary offering: the annual Zero Waste Youth Convergence conference. This multi-day event brings together students, young professionals, and environmental leaders for education, collaboration, and networking on zero waste topics. Supporting programs include film screenings with panel discussions, a career connections forum for job seekers and employers in the zero waste sector, volunteer opportunities for community engagement, and educational incentives like the Green Education raffle for professional certification. The organization does not have a software product, platform, or digital product offerings—its programs are entirely event and education-based.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zero Waste Youth Convergence
• Film Screenings
• Career Connections Forum
• Volunteer Program
• Green Education Raffle

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 participants at inaugural 2013 Convergence, growing to represent 65+ schools and organizations by 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Northern California Recycling Association (NCRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013NCRA serves as the advising organization for Zero Waste Youth USA, providing support and direction for the annual Zero Waste Youth Convergence. The partnership began in 2013 when NCRA's annual Recycling Update initiated the first Zero Waste Youth Convergence in the United States.
• CASA (Community Actions for Sustainable Alternatives)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCASA partners with Zero Waste Youth USA for monthly coastal cleanup events at Alameda Point. The partnership supports volunteer engagement and environmental education in the Bay Area community.
• Mission Blue San Francisco Bay Hope SpotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in monthly coastal cleanup events at Alameda Point, contributing to ocean conservation and plastic pollution awareness initiatives.
• DOER MarineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in monthly coastal cleanup events at Alameda Point focused on marine conservation and environmental stewardship.
• Alameda Recreation and Parks DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing venue and support for monthly coastal cleanup events at Alameda Point.
• California Resource Recovery AssociationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide recycling association sponsor for the 2020 Virtual Convergence, supporting youth education in zero waste and sustainability.
• City of FremontmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government sponsor for the 2020 Virtual Convergence, supporting zero waste education initiatives.
• City of San JosemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government sponsor for the 2020 Virtual Convergence, supporting youth environmental education.
• San Francisco Department of the EnvironmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity agency sponsor and ongoing partner providing expertise, speakers, and support for zero waste programs and Convergence events.
• Ecology Center (Berkeley)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental nonprofit partner co-hosting film screenings and providing youth internship programs and environmental education resources.
• Marin Sanitary ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaste management company sponsor for Convergence events supporting zero waste education.
• RecycleSmartminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecycling education organization sponsoring Convergence events and providing student internship opportunities.
• Zero Waste MarinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarin County nonprofit focused on zero waste education and recycling, providing sponsorship support.
• StopWasteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlameda County waste reduction organization sponsoring Zero Waste Youth events.
• SCRAP (Scroungers Center for People's Art Supplies)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative reuse nonprofit sponsoring events and supporting zero waste art and education programs.
• SWANA Gold Rush ChapterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolid Waste Association of North America chapter providing professional expertise and sponsorship.
• Zanker RecyclingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecycling company sponsor supporting zero waste education initiatives.
• Other Avenues CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative business sponsor supporting environmental education programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sunrise Movement Bay Area: Youth-led climate activism organization focused on mobilizing young people around environmental policy. Directly comparable to ZWYC in targeting Bay Area youth for climate engagement, though Sunrise is more policy- and electoral-focused while ZWYC emphasizes zero waste practice.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: Global nonprofit working to end plastic pollution and foster a just, zero-waste world through education, advocacy, and storytelling. Directly comparable to ZWYC's zero waste focus, with deeper policy and media reach.
• Ecology Center (Berkeley): Long-standing Berkeley-based environmental nonprofit focused on zero waste, sustainable food, and consumer education. A documented ZWYC partner co-hosting film screenings and youth internships, serving a similar Bay Area community with overlapping zero waste programming.
• Break Free From Plastic: Global movement organization dedicated to reducing single-use plastic pollution through campaigns and education. Directly aligned with ZWYC's zero waste mission and a documented ZWYC partner, operating at significantly greater geographic scale.
• Earth Guardians: Youth-driven environmental organization training young people in climate organizing, litigation, and campaigns. Closely comparable mission and youth-led model, with a national footprint rather than a single regional chapter focus.
• Community Actions for Sustainable Alternatives (CASA): Bay Area environmental nonprofit co-hosting monthly coastal cleanups at Alameda Point with ZWYC. Directly comparable community-level environmental programming with a stronger local government contracting footprint.

Broad incumbents

• 350.org: International climate change organization building a global grassroots movement. Comparable in mobilizing young people around climate action, but operates at vastly greater scale with paid staff across dozens of countries.
• Surfrider Foundation: Established national nonprofit focused on ocean conservation including plastic pollution reduction and beach cleanups. Directly comparable in coastal cleanup programming and zero waste advocacy, but operates a much larger national infrastructure with paid staff and chapters.

Emerging players

• Zero Waste Europe: European umbrella organization coordinating Zero Waste initiatives and the international Zero Waste Youth network of which ZWYC is the Bay Area chapter. Operates in a different geography but is directly comparable as the parent/sister network of the zero waste youth movement.

Regional players

• Northern California Recycling Association (NCRA): Advising organization to ZWYC since 2013 and the convening body that initiated the first Zero Waste Youth Convergence. Operates a similar Bay Area focus on recycling and zero waste education but serves a broader professional and adult membership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ZeroWasteYouthUSA
• Instagraminstagram.com/zerowasteyouthusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zero-waste-youth-usa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zero Waste Youth USA