The Zero Waste Forum will be held from March 30th to April 3rd, 2025.
The event is hosted by Race to Zero Waste in partnership with Broward Clean Air and Debris Free Oceans.
10 February, 2025
Join Race to Zero Waste for #ZeroWasteWeek, taking place in Hollywood, Florida from March 30 to April 3rd, 2025, featuring the 2025 Zero Waste Forum! The week includes a number of activities including a sustainability tour, beach cleanup, TRUE Zero Waste workshop, and the Forum, which will take place at the Anne Kolb Nature Center on April 1st and 2nd.
Registration is available to the public on an a-la-carte basis for each day of the Forum. There is also an online option available to hear the speaker presentations on April 1st and 2nd.
The 2025 Forum brings together local, national, and international speakers for an enriching experience and dynamic discussions on Zero Waste topics that are relevant to South Florida.
This year’s tagline, “Protecting People, Wetlands, and the Economy,” demonstrates the overarching goal of the Zero Waste Forum to create impact that is most relevant to South Florida. Highlighted are conversations on reducing food waste, improving compost infrastructure, supporting Zero Waste businesses, and advocating for alternatives to waste incineration.
Key highlights of the 2025 Zero Waste Week include:
Beach Cleanup (March 30th)
Sustainability Tour (March 31st)
Showcase of Broward County zero waste businesses and organizations (April 1st)
Networking reception & Sustainability in Action Awards (April 1st)
Policy Advocacy Breakout Sessions (April 1st and 2nd)
Esteemed local, national, and international speakers (April 1st and 2nd)
TRUE Zero Waste Workshop (April 3rd)
In Person and Online
With a hybrid format, the Forum ensures accessibility for both in-person and online participants, allowing for interactions among a global audience. As an extension of R20W’s mission, the Forum fosters meaningful discussions that drive systemic change. It addresses future challenges, highlights zero waste principles, and unites diverse voices to explore actionable solutions around equity and environmental impact.
Making Zero Waste Local
Local Partners Broward Clean Air and Debris Free Oceans lead the development of the Zero Waste Forum to bring topics and speakers that are most relevant to the Zero Waste movement as it currently exists in South Florida. How do you want to see things progress in the coming years?
Sponsorships and Scholarships
Race to Zero Waste is committed to providing scholarships and sliding-scale pricing to improve access to the Zero Waste Forum, especially for local attendees.
Sponsorships help us ensure participation of community groups that are interested in supporting zero waste programs in South Florida and beyond.
“Our vision of a zero waste future is one that is accessible and convenient for everyone, so providing scholarships [to the Forum] is part of that,” affirms Race to Zero Waste Director of Communications, Hayden Sloan.
Impactful Voices
The Zero Waste Forum has a proud history of featuring changemakers who are shaping the future of sustainability. Notable speakers for 2025 include:
Skye Williams (USA): Skye is a passionate advocate for community stewardship and environmental justice. As a proud member of Rural Roots Louisiana and a soon-to-be graduate of Donaldsonville High School, Skye is dedicated to raising awareness about the critical connection between environmental sustainability and public health.
Michael Karapetian (USA): The 23-year-old Great Global Cleanup Coordinator for EARTHDAY.ORG has led efforts to remove millions of pounds of trash globally. He advocates for systemic change to reduce plastic waste and works to build long-term solutions.
Iuliia Markhel (Ukraine): The visionary leader of Let’s Do It Ukraine, a movement uniting over 3.5 million Ukrainians in environmental activism. Iuliia has also organized humanitarian projects and raised awareness about the ecological consequences of war.
About Race to Zero Waste
Race to Zero Waste is a woman-founded and -run 501(c)(3) environmental conservation nonprofit dedicated to advancing a circular economy. Our mission is to empower individuals, businesses, and governments to reduce waste, implement reuse, and promote sustainable practices through education, outreach, and policy advocacy. By fostering community empowerment, leadership, and job creation, we aim to build a just and equitable future rooted in zero waste principles.
About Broward Clean Air
Broward Clean Air is dedicated to protecting and sustaining human health, clean air, water, soils, and the wetland ecosystems of the Florida Everglades. By fully adopting peer-reviewed Zero Waste Hierarchy strategies, as developed by the Zero Waste International Alliance and Energy Justice Network, Broward Clean Air advocates for innovative approaches to reducing environmental impact and preserving vital ecosystems for future generations.
About Debris Free Oceans
Debris Free Oceans is a Miami-based organization that inspires local communities to responsibly manage the lifecycle of plastics and waste as part of a global initiative to eradicate marine debris from our beaches, reefs, and oceans.
We believe in shifting our culture towards a circular economy, where “waste” no longer exists and all consumables are part of a closed-loop lifecycle.
Thank you to our 2025 Zero Waste Forum Sponsors
Zero Waste USA, SCS Engineers, The California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA), KnowBe4, The Northern California Recycling Association (NCRA), Bay Area Bin Support, Zero Waste Associates, Waste Advantage Magazine, and Fertile Earth Worm Farm.
