HigherEd ZeroWaste Industry News
Jack DeBell
HigherEd ZeroWaste Industry News
connecting higher education and the sustainable resource management industry
Winter, 2026
Original recycling mobius designed by University of Southern California Senior, Gary Anderson, 1970
In this Issue:
NRC's Campus Council Monthly Meeting, 1/28, Including Zero Waste Pioneer, Gary Liss
Building Circular Leaders: Survey Open
Outstanding Higher Education Institution: Santa Monica College
Profile: Scholarship Winner Megan Chan
Higher Ed/SMM Industry Roundtable: Input Requested
Upcoming Events
Interest Survey
Sponsorships Sought
apologies for cross posting
National Recycling Coalition's Campus Group Meets Monthly in 2026. January, 28th Meeting to Feature Gary Liss: Zero Waste Pioneer
The public is invited to attend monthly meetings of the NRC’s Campus Council. 90 minute zoom gatherings are scheduled for every last Wednesday of each month. The first meeting of 2026 is Wednesday, January 28th, 12-1:30pm Eastern time.
Throughout the year, meetings will feature guest speakers who are advancing sustainable materials management in the nation as well as globally. Zero Waste pioneer, Gary Liss, will present his latest work at the first meeting of the year. Upcoming events and opportunities which he is involved with will be detailed with ample time for discussion.
Register for the Campus Council meeting here https://www.nrcrecycles.org/events/
For more information about the Campus Council, visit https://www.nrcrecycles.org/about/our-councils/campus-council.html or e-mail nrccampu...@gmail.com
Connecting Future Leaders and the Sustainable Materials Management Industry
Findings from a novel project lead by the NRC’s Campus Council and GreenEducation.us, were presented recently at the National Recycling Coalition’s Congress. Three sectors: collegiate educators and students, professional trainers, and employers, were identified and represented through survey responses, literature review, and discussion. Findings consistently indicate several issues:
- eager students and faculty experience a catch-22 of lacking experience but needing it to get it.
- lack of trained professionals and trainers who try to meet the challenge of designing lessons that haven’t been learned yet.
- employers looking for the best hires but having difficulty finding them.
As a result of these challenges, there is very little collaboration among and between these sectors, despite their interdependence. The project hopes to help resolve persistent problems with collaboration by sharing vertically-aligned programs among the sectors that are accurate, consistent and actionable.
The survey continues to inform project leaders in the aggregate as well as enlist stakeholder involvement. The survey is available here.
Outstanding Higher Education Institution: Santa Monica College
Santa Monica College has nurtured a pioneering program offering degrees and certificates in zero waste and sustainable materials management with the goal of building a vital workforce pipeline for the circular economy. For over a decade, Santa Monica College has been one of the few community colleges to offer a certificate program for students interested in the zero waste field.
The National Recycling Coalition awarded their most recent award from a growing pool of campus applicants because the program exemplifies higher ed’s greatest role- enabling future leaders to make a difference with their degrees.
Students gain access to an incredible network of professionals working in the industry through guest speakers from the private, public, and non-profit sectors. Courses are taught by experts and industry professionals, ensuring the content remains relevant and up to date.
The program supports students just starting their career as well as those seeking a career change into something meaningful and impactful.
This program is critical to creating a pipeline of educated and empowered people (young and old) into the field of sustainable resource management to help create the circular economy we so desperately need to address climate change.
Learn more about the program here
Fostering Future Leaders: The Murray J. Fox Scholarship
The most recent Murray J. Fox Scholarship was presented in October by Jack DeBell, Chair of the NRC’s Campus Council, which manages the Coalition’s scholarship and higher education programs.
The Murray J. Fox Scholarship Fund, created in 1994 through an endowment, continues his legacy by fostering future leaders. Since its inception, the fund has supported dozens of students, many of whom have gone on to make lasting contributions to the industry. A tribute to Fox’s legacy is featured on the NRC Campus Council webpage.
The 2025 Murray J. Fox Scholarship was awarded to Megan Chan, a student in the Master of the Environment Program at the University of Colorado Boulder. Megan exemplifies the committee’s emphasis on supporting students with strong interest and experience in zero waste planning, food recovery, and composting.
Reflecting on the Scholarship, Megan stated, “The opportunity to attend the NRC event in person was great exposure to meet industry leaders and get inspired by the work happening in this field. The scholarship is not only honor, but a source of motivation to continue to push forward. To be seen is to be heard and I am incredibly grateful to have received this award.”
On behalf of the NRC, Megan received $3,000 toward tuition-related expenses, full admission to this year’s National Recycling Congress, and membership to both the NRC and its Emerging Leaders Network. Congratulations Megan!
Higher Ed/ Industry Roundtable Follow-up Underway
At the NRC Congress last October, facilitators Jack DeBell, NRC Campus Council and Peter Adrian, NRC Board lead a lively onsite/online discussion that brought normally unlikely groups together: college and university students/ faculty with sustainable materials management industry representatives. Participants often seemed genuinely unaware of what schools around the country are offering- with opportunities like procurement contracts or applied technology centers within reach. Similarly, educators seemed sensitized to the blazing pace of the SMM industry and how best to prepare careers in the field.
In 2015, an inclusive process for the EPA resulted in a white paper for improving collaboration among higher education institutions and the sustainable materials management industry. Engaging stakeholders in a similar process might update this document, improving collaboration in the process.
View the original White Paper and participate in updating and promoting a similar version: Improving Collaboration Among Higher Education Institutions and the Sustainable Materials Management Industry
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Zero Waste USA classes
Intro to ZW (1/29)
ZW Associates (Feb.-Apr. 2026), and
Advanced ZW Planning (May 7 & 14, 2026)
UN International Day of Zero Waste (March 30)
The 2025 theme highlighted the environmental toll of fast fashion, urging sustainable practices and circular models
Upcoming CURC Webinars
April 16, 2 pm EST: Reducing Single-use on Campus
August 11, 2 pm EST: Waste Diversion and Reduction in Athletics
September 17, 2 pm EST: Developing Effective Waste Signage
November 19, 2 pm EST: Specialty Recycling Streams
Interest Survey Underway
Colleges and universities have unique, even decisive roles in the long-term success of the recycling and sustainable resource management industry. This survey helps gauge interest from different stakeholders on and off campus and enlists potential involvement. Please take a moment to help advance this effort by taking this short survey.
Sponsorships Sought
The need has never been greater to invest now in a sound future where materials are managed more sustainably. Three immediate opportunities to support these future leaders include:
The National Recycling Coalition’s Scholarships
Sponsorship of additional student scholarships are welcomed. These competitively-selected students have committed to making a difference with their degree.
National Recycling Coalition Congress Sponsorships
Sponsor a student to attend the 2027 National Recycling Congress in Puerto Rico.
HigherEd ZeroWaste Industry Newsletters
Sponsorship of future newsletters will increase their timeliness- reaching an estimated twelve thousand readers.
Contact Jack DeBell for more information: debe...@gmail.com
About the Higher Ed Zero Waste Research Newsletter
Editor, Jack DeBell (University of Colorado at Boulder-retired), compiles and periodically shares accomplishments and opportunities with the objective of better connecting collegiate programs and the sustainable resource management industry. Contributions are always welcomed. To forward information or unsubscribe, e-mail debe...@gmail.com
Previous newsletters and subscription information are accessed at his website, which includes online training resources, as well as his forest restoration and vermicomposting work. Visit: https://debellp3.mailchimpsites.com/newsletters