The Illinois Climate Action Plan includes a vision of Zero Waste for campus, but ultimately the only way to really achieve Zero Waste is by getting behavior change in individuals. 

Materials consumption contributes directly to climate change. It requires energy to mine, extract, harvest, process, and transport raw materials, and more energy to manufacture, transport and, after use, dispose of products. This is a throw-away society. Waste prevention and recycling are important components in the University’s effort toward carbon neutrality, and that includes behavior change.

The New York Times pubished an opinion about overconsumption in 2008, called "What's Your Cosumption Factor?"