Giving Compass' Take:

• Casey O'Brien, writing for Shareable, lists various communities and projects happening around the world that are utilizing strategies to get to zero-waste. 

• Are there projects you can support in your community that focuses on zero-waste?  

• Read about DC's ambitious zero-waste bill. 

Communities worldwide are committing to wasting less and reusing more. If you are too, read on to learn and be inspired by examples communities coming together to create innovative strategies for getting to zero waste. From household cleaners to fabric scraps, these creative projects are taking waste reduction to the next level.

Berkeley, California: Urban Ore 

Urban Ore is a beloved salvage and reuse superstore operating out of a three-acre warehouse in Berkeley. It sells clothing, toys, appliances, furniture, gifts and even building materials. Items are sold at a significant discount from new items, and people can drop off used items for store credit. Urban Ore has operated since the 1980s, and throughout its long history has been an advocate for zero-waste communities.

Komikatsu, Japan: Zero-Waste Town 

The city of Komikatsu used to incinerate all its trash, but after realizing how damaging it is to the environment, officials decided to embark on an ambitious waste-reduction program. Now residents sort their trash into super-specific categories to make sure as much as possible is recycled.

Palo Alto, California: Household Hazardous Waste Station Reuse Zone 

Household cleaners, paints and other items with toxic chemicals can be difficult to dispose of safely. To tackle that issue and help reduce waste, the city of Palo Alto has city workers collect unwanted household items and inspect them to be sure they are still safe to use.

San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala: A Plastic Free Village

San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala, a village on the shores of Lake Atitlán, was becoming overrun with plastic packaging, so in 2016, Mayor Mauricio Mendez decided to make a change. He banned plastic outright, and in order to help residents adjust, the city purchased woven  reusable bags and containers for every family in town.

 Read the full article about communities going zero waste by Casey O'Brien at Shareable.