Eco-Cycle, one of the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit recycling organizations, has coordinated recycling services and environmental education programs for the two Boulder area public school districts (80 schools) since 1987. In 2005, Eco-Cycle launched the Green Star Schools program in four pilot elementary schools with the goal of moving them to zero waste. Zero waste is a whole-system approach to sustainability that involves much more than recycling. Unlike other programs that target only cafeteria waste, the Green Star model is the first in the nation to recycle and compost waste from all areas of the school. With some steps and extensive education and training, schools have been able to reduce their waste by as much as two-thirds.