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Utah Elementary Lunchroom Leads the Way in Food Waste Diversion

At Academy Park Elementary near Salt Lake City, sustainability isn’t a buzzword, it’s a practice woven into the fabric of the school’s daily cafeteria operations. Thanks to the hard work of head custodian Rylie Ogden, the school is leading by example with their innovative food waste diversion process. The initiative is a perfect blend of education, teamwork and commitment to preserving the planet for future generations.

Plastic Free Day: A step toward greener lunchrooms in GA

When lunch was served at two schools in Georgia’s Gwinnett County School System recently, something was missing. Plasticware, a lunchroom staple for years, was nowhere in sight. Excited students could be seen eating scrumptious and nutritious lunch items sans plastic utensils and served in paper boats, bowls or wrapped in paper. This was a day when eating with hands was encouraged!

California District Boosts Produce Intake with School Farmers Markets

Twin Rivers Unified School District, located just outside Sacramento, California, developed an innovative and engaging way to encourage more fruit and vegetable consumption among students. An annual Farmers Market at each of its 24 elementary school campuses provides hands-on, tangible experiences for students, empowering them with the knowledge and skills to make healthier food choices.

Hosting the market has become a beloved tradition at each school, as it is eagerly anticipated by students every year. At each market, fresh fruits and veggies bursting with color are on display. The students are challenged to pick at least two different colored items while learning shopping skills and receiving an on-site nutrition lesson.

Composting in Montana Cafeterias

With several elementary schools in Bozeman School District 7 (Montana) successfully composting for a few years, the district’s nutrition department teamed up with a local business to bring composting to all 12 of its cafeterias and central kitchen facility this year.

Since the start of this school year, more than 27,000 pounds of food scraps have been collected and diverted from the landfill. The nutrition department now uses biodegradable paper products that can also be composted.

Working toward zero waste in the cafeteria

One Florida school district has been making great strides toward its goal to reduce the amount of waste it sends to the local landfills. Alachua County Food & Nutrition Services is enlisting its youngest community members to help get there!

Students at Stephen Foster Elementary School separate their lunch leftovers and trash for compost and recycling, with some food scraps repurposed to feed pigs at a local farm. The Food & Nutrition Services department received a grant from the State of Florida to launch its new accelerated composting system.

Composting in Virginia School Cafeterias

Students in six Prince William County Public Schools (VA) changed the way they threw out cafeteria trash as part of a pilot composting program started this school year. Instead of one trash can, there are multiple barrels in classrooms and cafeterias for food scraps, milk cartons, recyclable plastics and non-recyclables.

Scraps of food are collected and recycled after lunch every day with a goal to reduce Prince William County’s environmental impact.