Current Opportunities
Follow Your Waste Prize
Are you trying to improve your school’s recycling or waste diversion this year? NYC K-12 public schools can win up to $1000 by participating in the NEW Follow Your Waste Game, an interactive and educational game that follows the lifecycle of waste in NYC and committing to a recycling or waste diversion project. To get started:
  • 1.   Play the Sanitation Foundation’s Follow Your Waste game with your class.
  • 2.   Between March 1-April 15, fill out a short survey about Follow Your Waste and describe a recycling or waste diversion project your school has completed or will be working on this year.
  • 3.   Post a photo of your schools current recycling or waste diversion project on the ZWS website no later than April 15, 2022 at 5pm.

Prize winners will be announced at the end of April.

For more information, including project examples, please see the flier.
Follow Your Waste Prize Flier (PDF)

Current Contests
DSNY’s Commissioner’s Cup (Award)
A recognition for sustainability efforts, projects and significant improvement in school recycling, chosen by the DSNY Commissioner’s Office
Team Up To Clean Up Contest
Rewards schools that conceive, design, and implement effective cleanup and beautification projects, including school gardens
Reduce & Reuse Contest
Recognizes and awards creative reuse projects in schools
Super Recyclers Contest
Recognizes and awards exemplary recycling programs in schools
Important Notes
  • •   Follow Your Waste opens on March 1, 2022 and closes at 5pm on Friday, April 15, 2022.
  • •   The 2022 ZWS Awards open on January 10, 2022 and close at 5pm on Friday, May 6, 2022.
  • •   Only NYC DOE public schools can win cash prizes. Private and charter schools cannot win cash prizes.
  • •   For any questions about the contests or website, email schools@dsny.nyc.gov
2019 Winners
Click to see all contests winners
Past Winners
2018 2017 2016 2015
2014 2013 2012 2011
2010 2009 2008 2007
2006 2005 2004 2003
2002 2001
Getting Started on ZWS
The Zero Waste Schools (ZWS) website is an exciting new social media platform where NYC students and teachers can celebrate what they are doing to protect our environment – and win prizes too!

See the FAQ section on how to create an account.

Teachers must first create an account before their students can begin posting. Teachers can get their school’s unique validation code, which they will need to create their school’s account, by emailing schools@dsny.nyc.gov (include your school name/number and address). Teachers can begin posting as soon as they sign up.

Get started on the contests today! Read the contest pages for more information, and look at the previous winners for great ideas.

Email schools@dsny.nyc.gov with any questions.

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