A Zero Waste Culture
Real change happens when people have the knowledge, tools, and opportunities to take action.
Founded in 2019 in Key Biscayne, Florida, A Zero Waste Culture (AZWC) is a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and empowering communities to reduce waste through education and action. We help people understand how everyday choices affect the environment and provide practical ways to make a difference.
A big part of what we do happens every week. Through our community composting program, reuse and recycling initiatives, and other hands-on activities, we help keep valuable resources out of landfills and give them a second life. By making these opportunities accessible and easy to participate in, we help turn sustainable intentions into everyday habits.
Education is at the heart of our mission. Through community outreach and hands-on initiatives, we engage families, schools, businesses, and volunteers in composting, recycling, reuse, waste prevention, and responsible consumption. We believe that when people understand what they can do and have the means to do it, meaningful change becomes possible.
For us, zero waste is about more than what goes in the trash. It’s about rethinking how we use resources, preventing unnecessary waste, and building habits that benefit our communities and the environment. *It’s about creating a culture of zero waste.*
Our work began in Key Biscayne, but the goal is much bigger: to show that communities everywhere can reduce waste and make sustainable living part of everyday life.
Our Story
A Zero Waste Culture was founded in 2019, but its roots go back much further.
Our founder, Helena Iturralde, developed a deep concern for the environment long before sustainability became part of everyday conversation. Growing up in Spain, she began questioning the amount of waste we generate and, as early as 1988, was already finding ways to separate and recycle household materials in Madrid, at a time when recycling was far from common.
Years later, after moving to Miami, that same concern grew into a more urgent question: What can each of us do to make a difference?
In January 2019, Helena organized a series of educational visits to Miami’s recycling facility. What we discovered was eye-opening. We had always believed that putting something in the recycling bin meant it would be recycled. But seeing firsthand how the system worked made us realize just how much waste never gets a second life.
That experience reinforced something Helena had believed for years: awareness is important, but we cannot wait for governments or big corporations to create change. We can start right where we are, in our own communities.
And so, A Zero Waste Culture was born.
What began as an effort to raise awareness about waste and recycling gradually grew into something much more hands-on. We started creating opportunities for people to take action, bringing together neighbors, schools, businesses, and volunteers to reduce waste, rethink consumption, and make more sustainable choices.
In 2020, we launched the Key Biscayne Community Composting Program, turning food scraps that would otherwise end up in landfills into valuable compost that goes back into our soil. Over time, our initiatives expanded to include reuse, responsible recycling, waste prevention, and community education.
Today, AZWC continues to grow through the energy, generosity, and commitment of the people who participate.
Because creating a zero waste culture isn’t about being perfect. It’s about changing habits, working together, and recognizing that every action counts.
Our Vision
A world where zero waste is more than a goal — it’s a culture. Where resources are valued, waste is prevented, and sustainable living becomes second nature. A world where communities work together to protect our planet for generations to come.
Our Mission
To inspire and empower communities to reduce waste, rethink consumption, and turn environmental awareness into lasting action through education, hands-on initiatives, and community collaboration.
Our goal is simple: to make sustainability part of everyday life.
Our Initiatives
Food Scrap Collection
We collect food scraps from restaurants, schools, hotels and homes
Community Composting
The organic waste is placed in a composting pit for cooking and turning
Educational Workshops
We offer field trips and teach people of all ages about composting
Composting Advocacy
Raising awareness, educating communities, and promoting sustainable practices that reduce waste and protect our environment.
Community Projects
We engage volunteers who gain hands-on experience in composting and sustainability while making a positive impact on their community.
