How to Take Action for Climate Week

Forest fire ablaze

By Nicole De Santis

During September we celebrate Climate Week; what better time to reflect on how your waste reduction efforts are going so far in 2026, and to see where you can make some more planet friendly changes this year. As we all know, our climate is under attack resulting in rising temperatures and increasingly erratic weather, and could use our help!

Below is a list of some easy actions we can all take to round out the year in a more climate friendly and less wasteful way! Did you know that when you reduce or divert waste, especially food waste, you are reducing your personal greenhouse gas emissions significantly?

Reducing food waste at home and in the office

• Use a food calculator like the Guestimator to help reduce food waste for parties and catering orders.

• Donate to local food rescue organizations (Think Zero can help), or share leftover food with colleagues, building staff and neighbors.

• Start an organics program in your office if you don't have one already, to divert whatever cannot be eaten or donated. Many businesses are required to divert organics already. Review NYC commercial organics rules here. 

  *If you live in any of the boroughs of NYC, you are required to separate your organics at home.

  
  

Make the switch to reusables in the office and in your daily life

• If your office doesn't offer reusable cups, plates, and silverware, keep your own on hand.

• Carry a reusable bag for shopping.

• Carry a reusable coffee cup, go to places that will allow you to BYO cup, or go to places that offer reusable cups when dining in. Use this tool to find local, eco-friendly cafes.

• Carry a reusable stainless steel water bottle. With all the news about the dangers microplastics can cause to our health and the environment, this is a great option to avoid microplastics. Stainless steel also keeps your drinks cold or hot for a longer period of time.

  
  

Attend or host a repair event to get your items fixed instead of trashing them

• For more information about local repair events, check out this link to Repair Cafes.

Join a community cleanup or organize one with your friends and coworkers to ensure more trash stays out of our drains and waterways, while helping to uplift the community

Consider implementing Meat Free Mondays to reduce meat consumption, a great way to lower your environmental footprint.

Set-up a lunch and learn, sustainable Jeopardy game, or another fun event with Think Zero, to help educate your staff/colleagues on ways to reduce your climate impact.

With Summer coming to an end and fall on the horizon, before we know it, we will be well into the holiday season, which can be a very wasteful time of the year. 

Start planning ahead to enjoy a waste free holiday season, plan a low waste holiday education event with Think Zero.

The idea with these and other climate friendly actions is not to be perfect; pick one or 2 things to start with and continue to add more over time. 

Here is a link to more planet friendly actions:

United Nations: Actions for a Healthy Planet