Live Interactive Sessions

Connect real time with fellow learners and mentors through dynamic and engaging live sessions

Hands-On Activities

Get your ideas growing with practical, real-world activities that make an impact in your local community

In-Person Workshops

Experience shared learning through face-to-face workshops, site visits and collaboration with fellow learners

About the course

Zero Waste Academy: Community Zero Waste Program Implementation Course is an immersive training program designed to give participants the tools to implement a Zero Waste program in their respective cities and communities. Designed by GAIA Asia Pacific and Mother Earth Foundation (MEF), the traditional in-person two-week workshop covered a mix of lectures, hands-on exercises, and writing sessions. It is specially designed for project implementers and key stakeholders within a community. With the physical limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, GAIA AP and MEF translated this in-person workshop into an online course that was developed and launched in 2020 called the Zero Waste Academy Online (ZWAO). With the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the second cohort of Zero Waste Academy Online was implemented through a hybrid of setup of instruction—with online sessions and in-person workshops. Building on the success of the previous iterations of the program, GAIA Asia Pacific and Mother Earth Foundation, continues to implement a this program with a hybrid mode of delivery, where best practices, case studies, and expertise on Zero Waste from the Asia Pacific region are presented in a strategic blend of online lectures, virtual and in-person study tours, simulations, up-to-date literature, and real-life examples that will provide participants with the essential knowledge and toolkit to implement their Zero Waste program.

About Zero Waste Academy

The Zero Waste Academy (ZWA) is an open online learning platform designed by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) Asia Pacific and Mother Earth Foundation (MEF), that aims to provide accessible and relevant courses to participants interested to learn and implement Zero Waste programs and campaigns. Today, the Zero Waste Academy offers a growing range of courses, including those focused on organics management, reuse systems, zero waste islands, the global plastics treaty, anti-incineration advocacy, and several more in development.

Curriculum

10 Chapters · 57 Lessons

  1. 1

    Welcome Participants

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Welcome to the Zero Waste Academy: Community Zero Waste Program Implementation Course

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      ZWA Community Zero Waste Program Implementation Course 2025 Participant Confirmation

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      ZWA Community Zero Waste Program Implementation Course 2025 Participant Confirmation

  2. 2

    Live Session 2

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      📅 Save the Date: Upcoming Live Session via Zoom!

  3. 3

    Module 1: About the Zero Waste Academy

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      1A. Introduction to Zero Waste Academy

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Say Hello! Introduce Yourself to the Community

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Stay Connected: Join our WhatsApp Group!

  4. 4

    Module 2: Zero Waste 101

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 2: Pre-Diagnostic Survey

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 2: Pre-Diagnostic Survey

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      2A. The Big Picture: An Overview of the Current Systems and Current Environmental Challenges (part 1)

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      2A. The Big Picture: An Overview of the Current Systems and Current Environmental Challenges (part 2)

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      2B. Introduction to Zero Waste and False Solutions (part 1)

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      2B. Introduction to Zero Waste and False Solutions (part 2)

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      2B. Reading Materials

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Activity #1

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      2C. Establishing the foundation for Zero Waste cities and municipalities

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Activity #2

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      2D. Zero Waste Cities and Communities in Asia (part 1)

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      2D. Zero Waste Cities and Communities in Asia (part 2)

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz #1 Instructions

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz #1

  5. 5

    Live Session 1

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      📅 Save the Date: Upcoming Live Session via Zoom!

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      🎬 ICYMI: Recording of Orientation Session (part 1)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      🎬 ICYMI: Recording of Orientation Session (part 2)

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      📊 ICYMI: Slide Deck for Orientation Session

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      📸 Check out the photos!

  6. 6

    Module 3: Cross-cutting Issues of Zero Waste

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 3: Pre-Diagnostic Survey

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 3: Pre-Diagnostic Survey

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      3A. Plastic 101: Tackling the Global Plastic Crisis at the Source

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      3B. Waste-to-Energy as a False Solution

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      3C. Zero Waste and Zero Emissions

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 3: Reading Materials

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 3: Additional Reading Materials

  7. 7

    Module 4: Zero Waste Essentials Toolkit

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 4: Pre-Diagnostic Survey

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 4: Pre-Diagnostic Survey

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      4A. No One Left Behind: Waste and Just Transition

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      4B. Identifying the Waste Problem Through Waste Assessment and Brand Audits (WABA)

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      4C. Zero Waste Finance: A Briefer

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 4: Reading Materials

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz #2 Instructions

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz #2

  8. 8

    Module 5: Ten Steps and Data Driven Solutions

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 5: Pre-Diagnostic Survey

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 5: Pre-Diagnostic Survey

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      5A. 10 Steps 101

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      5B. Green Profiling

  9. 9

    Module 6: Ten Steps and Zero Waste Education and Campaigns

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 6: Pre-Diagnostic Survey

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 6: Pre-Diagnostic Survey

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      6A. Multi-Sectoral Training and Consultation

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      6B. Information, Communication, and Education (IEC) Campaign

  10. 10

    Module 7: Ten Steps and Operationalizing Zero Waste in Your Community

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 7: Pre-Diagnostic Survey

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 7: Pre-Diagnostic Survey

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      7A. MRF Design and Operations

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      7B. Collection System

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      7C. Monitoring and Enforcement

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz #3 Instructions

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      🎬 Please Stand By — We are Almost Ready!

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Quiz #3

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