--- title: ZeroTrash shows how to create a social media grassroots movement image: https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601321078-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e2011571399124970b-250wi.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/2009/06/zerotrash-shows-how-to-create-a-social-media-grassroots-movement.html#maincontent) [ «  View All Posts ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog) # ZeroTrash shows how to create a social media grassroots movement June 22nd, 2009 1 min read By [David Meerman Scott](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) ![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601321078-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e2011571399124970b-250wi.jpg?width=250&height=44&name=6a00d83451f23a69e2011571399124970b-250wi.jpg) [![Zerotrashlog](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601321078-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e2011571399124970b-250wi.jpg)](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e2011571399124970b-popup)I had an opportunity to connect with Chip McDermott, founder of ZeroTrash who I originally met at the Inbound Marketing Summit in San Francisco. I haver become fascinated with the online grassroots movement Chip started that's gathering momentum and is now instrumental in ridding the streets and beaches of Laguna Beach, CA of trash. Chip started [ZeroTrash Laguna](http://www.zerotrashlaguna.org/) as a nonprofit organization in November 2007 with the support of XS Energy Drinks, Hobie Sports & Thalia Surf Shop. Though population and tourism had exploded, the city had not kept up in providing a sufficient infrastructure for public trash and recycling. **Social media to influence people** "The spark of the idea was that trash was becoming commonplace on the streets and the sidewalks of Laguna Beach," Chip says. "We started with a [Facebook fan page for ZeroTrash Laguna](http://www.facebook.com/pages/ZeroTrash/71671924615) that now has hundreds of members." People use the Facebook page to organize events and connect local storeowners and residents. Before and after photos of trash on the streets incite people to action. "We met with store owners to get our first Saturday movement going," Chip says. "We meet at a couple of stores and got volunteers to walk the city and pick up trash on the first Saturday of each month." The storeowners love it because they people support local stores and the shopping areas remain clean. Chip has tapped storeowners as sponsors who fund the purchase of supplies and tools like trash pickers, t-shirts, trash bags, and gloves. Chip has also started a [ZeroTrash blog](http://zerotrash.wordpress.com/) and is on Twitter as [@ZeroTrash](http://twitter.com/ZeroTrash). The social media sites serve to keep people updated. For example, on the first Saturday of May, 2009, the Laguna Beach community helped to remove another 590 lbs. of trash and 375 lbs. of recyclables from the streets. He has high hopes for the organization and ambitions to spread the movement beyond Laguna Beach. "We want people to take individual ownership of each new local ZeroTrash community," he says. "How can they get people with a passion to take control and start in their own communities? The obvious answer is to use social media to influence people." Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are a great place to start (or extend) a movement. If you work at a nonprofit, are you tapping these resources to reach your supporters? [![Zerotrashpic](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/file-1601321093-jpg/blog-files/6a00d83451f23a69e2011570446651970c-350wi.jpg)](http://freshspot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451f23a69e2011570446651970c-popup) [ David Meerman Scott ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/author/david-meerman-scott) David Meerman Scott is a business growth strategist, advisor to clever entrepreneurs who are building emerging companies, and the international bestselling author of a dozen books published in 30 languages. David’s high-energy keynote presentations, masterclasses, and virtual events educate, energize, and inspire. Connect: [mailto:david@freshspot.com](mailto:david@freshspot.com) Topics: [ Facebook ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/facebook) [ Non Profits ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/non-profits) [ Brand Journalism ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/brand-journalism) [ Best Practices ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/topic/best-practices) Don't forget to share this post: ## Related Articles [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stefano%20Paciotti.jpg?width=1500&height=1084&name=Stefano%20Paciotti.jpg) ### The Ham Whisperer of Rome: How Stefano’s Honest Videos Won the World’s Heart June 24th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/the-ham-whisperer-of-rome-how-stefanos-honest-videos-won-the-worlds-heart) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Facebook%20Live%20no%20more.jpg?width=1352&height=893&name=Facebook%20Live%20no%20more.jpg) ### Meta Focused On Profit Over Users: Now Deletes Facebook Live Videos After 30 Days April 28th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/meta-focused-on-profit-over-users-now-deletes-facebook-live-videos-after-30-days) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Pirated%20books.jpg?width=1500&height=1000&name=Pirated%20books.jpg) ### Move Fast and Steal Things: Meta Pirated 53 of My Books and Stories to Train Their AI March 26th, 2025|1 min read ](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/blog/move-fast-and-steal-things-meta-pirated-53-of-my-books-and-stories-to-train-their-ai) [![](https://www.davidmeermanscott.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Careless%20People%20book%20cover.jpg?width=1500&height=1117&name=Careless%20People%20book%20cover.jpg) ### Freedom of Speech? 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