Dennis Uyat

Principal of Zero Waste Project

Dennis Uyat

Dennis Uyat is the Principal of Zero Waste Project, an independent consultancy with over 10 years of experience providing technical assistance and multilingual environmental education to public agencies, universities, and businesses in and exceeding compliance with California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutants Reduction Strategy.

Their work focuses on upstream prevention solutions of Edible Food Generator inspections in San Francisco and signing businesses up with Careit food donation program in Alameda County.

Dennis holds a B.A. in Geography from UC Berkeley, and Zero Waste USA certificates in Advanced Zero Waste Planning (2023) and Zero Waste Associate (2018).

Biography

As Executive Chef Director of Nutrition Services for Cheney Public Schools since 2015, LJ has revolutionized K-12 dining by creating scratch-made, nutritious meals while championing sustainable practices to minimize food waste. His innovative approaches inspire students to embrace healthy, eco-conscious food choices. Beyond schools, LJ consults nationwide, collaborating with early childhood programs, the Washington Fire Chiefs Association to integrate sustainable menus into fire stations, and the Department of Defense to educate military families. As the founder of Richland Community College’s Culinary Arts Institute, he empowered future chefs to prioritize sustainability.

On the panel, LJ will share practical strategies to combat food waste, drawing on his servant leadership philosophy and culinary expertise. Using food as a universal language, he’ll challenge attendees to rethink waste through purpose-driven solutions, from community kitchens to institutional reforms, inspiring actionable change for a more sustainable future.

Sessions

2/24/26
9am-Rising Collection Costs- Celebrity Ballroom

2/25/26
11am- Food Waste in Education- Celebrity E

Dennis Uyat

Dennis Uyat

Dennis Uyat

Biography

Sessions

Information