A Zero Waste Culture

AZWC was founded by Helena Iturralde as a call to action after several visits to Miami's Waste Management Recycling Facility revealed almost nothing is being recycled. She felt compelled to act and assembled a team of local Key Biscayne residents to advocate, educate, and engage the community in grassroots climate change mitigation programs.6

Since AZWC's kickoff, we've converted over 86 tons of food waste and 600 cubic yards of garden waste into rich fertile soil, repurposed over 3,000 pounds of textiles, t-shirts and local coffee roaster's burlap bags, partnered with LadyGreen installing 7 "hard to recycle" containers at 2 local schools, donated 6,654 reusable facemasks to low-income communities and employed 8 women who were out of a job. Through education and persistence, we've seen a growth in climate-consciousness throughout the community in which 235 families, 1 hotel, 2 restaurants, 3 small businesses and 2 schools are now members of our compost program and 245 volunteers have lent us their helping hands. We're providing compost soil for local schools, nurseries and mangrove restoration projects. 

We’ve developed a youth leadership program to empower teens to be environmental advocates and the leaders of tomorrow and started youth community engagement programs to assess what they value about the Earth and pledge to protect it. Our team of high school volunteers have started awareness campaigns on the issue of food, plastic and textile waste. It has been an undertaking involving a lot of work and attention but equally as rewarding for us when we see the growing rate of care for the planet.

Furthermore, we're ambitiously adding new projects to reduce the waste we produce. These programs require funds in order to be brought to life and sustained.

Since our launch, we've been driven by our passion for the environment with all proceeds dedicated to the cause. As a nonprofit that revolves around the community, without YOU there is no us. We need your support to continue to grow and educate the community through hands-on, impactful programs.

Together, we can make a real difference.