The highly anticipated Zero Waste Forum convenes March 30-April 2 to advance sustainable waste solutions and foster community-driven environmental advocacy. With South Florida playing host, the region simultaneously grapples with limited landfill space and strong opposition to a proposed multibillion-dollar incinerator. Hosted by Race to Zero Waste in partnership with Broward Clean Air and Debris Free Oceans, the forum unites global and local experts to discuss alternative zero-waste solutions we can all contribute to — and that actually work.
Photo Courtesy of Debris Free Oceans
Hayden Sloan’s journey to zero waste advocacy began in an unexpected place — Southern China. While working there as an English teacher, she was struck by the lack of waste management systems and the excess of litter that filled streets and public spaces.
Growing up in Alabama, trash pickup was standard, but recycling and composting were limited, and Hayden was already familiar with the far-reaching consequences of poor waste management.
Then, in 2018, while working in Pittsburgh, she met Teresa Bradley, a like-minded environmental advocate. After founding Race to Zero Waste, Teresa invited Hayden to join the organization as its strategic director of communications, sparking a partnership in driving waste solutions.
Race to Zero Waste first gained traction by hosting cup-free fun runs and setting up Zero Waste Stations at local events in California’s Bay Area. These interactive stations help event-goers properly sort waste while providing hands-on education about sustainable waste practices.
“This year, we’re expanding the pop-up program across the country,” Hayden proudly shares. “We have awarded zero waste stations to five organizations in Arizona, Nevada, New York, and Florida.”
Photo Courtesy of Race to Zero Waste
In Florida, the initiative has already made an impact, with a pilot station at a Southwest Ranches farmers market.
Race to Zero Waste’s expansion strategy involves both grassroots efforts and partnerships with local organizations.
“We put out an online application for organizations to apply,” Hayden adds. “This year’s program is supported by discretionary funds, but in the future, we’d love to have a grant-funded program to increase the reach nationally and even internationally.”
A significant part of this national outreach is the Zero Waste Forum. After a successful first event in San Francisco, Race to Zero Waste selected Hollywood, a suburb in the Miami metropolitan area, to host its second.
“When we met Richard Ramcharitar from Broward Clean Air at our San Francisco forum, we started conversations about bringing the movement to South Florida. It became clear that the region was an important place to spread the zero waste message,” Hayden explains.
“One of our biggest goals is to show people that there is support for zero waste. We want to let municipal officials, businesses, and waste haulers know that waste materials have value and can be managed more sustainably.”
Discover more speakers of Zero Waste Forum 2025
The Forum’s theme, “Protecting People, Wetlands, and the Economy,” reflects the organization’s mission and is tailored to local needs.
“Economic opportunity, social and environmental justice are all connected,” she says. “We need to ask: Who are the companies profiting from waste? Who is being affected by pollution?”
The Forum’s two-day agenda covers a range of zero waste topics, including alternatives to incineration, composting infrastructure, global case studies, and policy implementation.
With a hybrid format, the Forum ensures accessibility for both in-person and online participants, expanding its reach to a global audience.
It’s also keenly amplifying youth advocacy. As Hayden explains:
“We’ve always believed in the power of young voices. We work with university students in the Bay Area, and we’re excited to highlight young advocates like Anagha Iyer from the Broward Sierra Club and Lael ‘Kylin’ Judson from Rural Roots Louisiana.”
As Race to Zero Waste grows, Hayden remains hopeful that their work will empower communities nationwide:
“We want people interested in zero waste to find each other locally, advocate together, and build strong, sustainable communities. Maybe it's creating zero waste guidelines, making a zero waste plan, talking to your municipal officials, or asking for compost services from your waste hauler. There are so many things that people can ask for locally, and it feels so much better to do it when you're with a group of people.”
REUSE AND COMPOST: PROVEN LOCAL STRATEGIES
Madeline Kaufman of Debris Free Oceans, a Miami-based partner organization, wholeheartedly agrees. Madeline manages Zero Waste Miami, the grassroots movement that has grown into a thriving coalition of over 135 businesses, schools, events, local government entities, and waste service providers — all committed to reducing waste.
Madeline Kaufman, Amanda Di Perna & Caiti Waks | Photo Courtesy of Debris Free Oceans
Madeline enriched the Forum’s programming by suggesting local experts and setting a zero waste tour at the University of Miami to highlight their student-led initiatives like reusable to-go containers, composting efforts, and sneaker recycling.
For Madeline, the Forum’s interactive format is a crucial way to generate real, actionable solutions and build a supportive ecosystem:
"Our policy landscape in Florida is really complex. We’re preempted from banning plastic containers, and there are all these zoning and permitting hurdles for composting. So, we’ve been working to ensure that these issues are front and center at the Forum. Amanda, our Program Manager, is moderating a panel focused on policy and solutions, where we’ll dig into these regulatory challenges and figure out ways to push forward, even within these constraints."
One area where Madeline sees a need for innovation is in scaling local composting programs. The zoning restrictions, critics say, have made Miami-Dade lag behind other states and communities in Florida that have created robust composting systems.
"Composting is a powerful solution — organic waste makes up about 40% of our total waste. By diverting it from landfills, we can significantly ease the burden on waste management infrastructure and cut climate emissions since organic waste emits methane as it decomposes in landfills."
Looking ahead, Madeline’s work with Debris Free Oceans continues to focus on expanding local zero waste initiatives. With funding from NOAA Sea Grant, the Zero Waste Miami coalition is launching a series of community workshops to audit Miami-Dade’s waste output and identify gaps in waste diversion efforts. The coalition’s goal is to develop a waste prevention and diversion strategy that will inform both local and county-level policies.
THE POWER OF GRASSROOTS ACTION
Photo Courtesy of Broward Clean Air
Madeline and Hayden both credit Richard Ramcharitar for his connection and advocacy efforts. As the founder of Broward Clean Air, Richard has been instrumental in taking a stand against the expansion of waste incineration in South Florida and bringing zero waste certification courses to the region, ensuring that residents and local officials are aware of sustainable alternatives to toxic waste-burning practices.
His hometown of Southwest Ranches now stands as a model for how zero waste education can lead to impactful policy change at the municipal level. With Richard’s grassroot advocacy and community outreach, the town established an official Zero Waste Advisory Board, passed a resolution opposing new incinerators, declared October as Zero Waste Month, and is launching a composting pilot program in partnership with Filthy Organics.
Richard sees public education as the catalyst for change:
"One of the biggest oversights in waste management has been the failure to invest in ongoing public education. Miami-Dade, for example, produces about 7.9 pounds of waste per person daily — nearly double the national average. We need comprehensive, county-wide education initiatives to teach people not only how to reduce waste but also how to consume less."
Richard also emphasizes the importance of enforcing existing waste regulations.
"We have regulations on the books, but they’re not being enforced consistently. Early adopters of zero waste practices need support, but those who don’t comply must face some level of enforcement. That’s how we move toward a circular economy — by ensuring accountability and investing in solutions like recycling and composting."
Richard stresses the need for local and state governments to join and support this initiative to move Florida in the right direction: a circular economy where waste is reduced and reused for composting, where resources are recycled, and incineration is no longer the default solution.
"For the first time in Florida, we’re hosting a zero waste week global forum that will connect local leaders with national and international experts who have successfully implemented and continue to develop zero waste programs in their communities,” Richard concludes.
"No one expects us to achieve literal zero waste. But by setting that goal, we continuously push for progress and work toward getting as close to it as possible. Our goal is to provide calls to action for individuals, businesses, institutions, and elected officials, to move Florida in the direction of Zero Waste, and building a sustainable circular economy, that protects people, the wetlands, and the economy."
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