Let’s Do It World (LDIW) Board Member Pal Martensson shares his story of attending the 2026 Zero Waste Forum.
Organised by Race to Zero Waste – in partnership with organisations including GreenEducation.US, Park City Municipal, and the National Recycling Coalition – the three-day forum took place from 21–23 April at the Jim Santy Auditorium in Park City Library, coinciding with Earth Week programming and celebrations.
The event was designed to attract a mix of local, national, and international participants for a series of panels, workshops, networking events, and a public-facing festival component.
Race to Zero Waste previously hosted the forum in Hollywood, Florida, and San Francisco, California. More than 20 speakers gave inspiring presentations on topics that benefit the planet. A few highlights included:
Dr Sami Romanick, a researcher with the Environmental Working Group, hosted an excellent workshop offering participants a close-up look at microplastics found in snow samples collected in Park City. Her research is extremely important, and she proved to be both an impressive speaker and personality.
Our own super leader, Julia, hosted two excellent sessions. One focused on how volunteering, leadership, and advocacy can create a zero-waste future. She posed thought-provoking questions and provided inspiring answers that impressed the audience. Her presentation was energetic, informative, and impactful. A few examples from Julia included:
“What is leadership? Leadership is not a title – it is action, responsibility, problem-solving, inspiring others, teamwork, and driving change. What is advocacy? Advocacy is creating positive change with your voice, and when people speak together, leaders listen.”
Her second session focused on how she created Let’s Do It Ukraine, and how volunteering and NGO leadership can help create a zero-waste future. She also spoke about her School Recycling online course.
“We don’t just talk about change – we make change together. We want to unite everyone in the community, and we work hard on both local and international levels to bring organisations, co-operation, and governments together,” she said.
Let's Do It Ukraine is the largest youth eco-movement in Ukraine. It unites activists to help the civilian population through humanitarian efforts, promotes a culture of cleanliness and responsible waste management, supports volunteerism and leadership, provides information and education, implements social projects, and researches environmental disasters.
Utah wants to build an eco-park, which is why veteran activist Pal Martensson gave a speech about the first and world’s largest “Re-Using Park” that he built in Sweden – a pioneering model for many parks around the world. It is a very impressive park, and it has had a significant impact thanks to the advocacy work he has carried out internationally for many years.
“We must climb higher up the waste hierarchy as much as we can. We are improving all the time, but it is still a long road ahead,” he said.
Today’s technology will help us greatly. Mobile app technology helps consumers keep up with developments, and younger consumers are adapting more quickly to digital innovations. Pal spoke with great respect and optimism about the combination of humans and technology.
There is a significant difference in how generations use services through mobile apps. Younger generations are three times more likely to use mobile banking apps and twice as likely to use ride-sharing services compared to older generations. Waste management is very app-friendly – it is not only about recycling, but also about changing behaviour.
“We need to talk about consumption, sustainability, and their impact on our environment. ‘Away’, when it comes to waste, means it ends up in forests, in the air, in the water, and in our bodies – yes, our bodies! We are literally eating plastic, breathing in furans and dioxins, and drinking fluoridated water every day. We are harming ourselves, and we allow companies and governments to do it to us. It must be stopped now,” said Pal Martensson.
Pal was also awarded the “Sustainability in Action Award” for outstanding advocacy around the globe.
Steve Jewett from Earthday, one of our partners, hosted an important session about the organisation’s work. He mentioned the importance of environmental infrastructure and accessible data platforms. His message was clear:
“Environmental progress is built through everyday action – from communities protecting ecosystems to innovators advancing solutions. Clean air, safe water, and climate resilience are not optional – they are essential.”
We also celebrated Earth Day on 22 April with a dinner and strategic discussions about future projects.
Pal, Julia, and Steve also promoted LDIU and WCD, explaining the important work being carried out around the world. We had a great photo session with our large flag, and the audience chanted: “Let’s Do It!” and “Zero Waste!”. It was a fantastic event, and the audience was highly engaged.
Park City is set to be successful, especially with its excellent new leader, Jill Donello from Green Education US, who is based in Park City and also helped co-ordinate programming to reflect regional priorities.
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