We have a large school district of 200 schools with a great deal of interest in this topic from K-12. Our district environmental stewardship team (Get2Green) has been working diligently with schools to explore the causes behind an increase in food waste and how to minimize it by including composting of food scraps as one means. Our county has specific guidelines for composting food scraps and our advice to schools is to start small! Elementary schools have started by focusing on a few items at a time in the cafeteria to minimize contamination and get used to the idea of what is acceptable to compost. Thinks like apple cores, banana peels, leftover grapes or tomatoes are good to start with. We have salad bars in all of our schools and have cautioned students on adding salad leftovers with dressing on it or any proteins like cheese and eggs. This can be difficult in the rush to get to recess! We have many students on Green or Eco teams who volunteer to help students properly add compostables to designated bins, place recyclables in the proper containers, along with placing items like, unopened packaged goods, unpeeled fruits like apples and oranges in a food share area to be used by students and staff or sent to a food pantry. This has resulted in a significant reduction in food waste and has helped immensely in an area where many students (and staff) are food insecure. Food scraps are then collected and added to closed tumbler systems where there is also easy access to brown materials. The tumblers are usually located near garden areas. Schools have different ways of assigning who will monitor the compost. It's been a great teaching tool and we have managed to find lots of curriculum connections.
You are welcome to visit the section on composting on our district website at Home | FCPS Get2Green. It is under the recycling tab.
Good luck!
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[Karen] [Taylor]
[Get2Green Support Specialist]
[Fairfax County Public Schools]
[Fairfax] [VA]
[She,Her]
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-20-2024 08:09:55 AM
From: Sophie Lindley
Subject: Cafeteria Composting Programs
So fun! I have a document I created for how I started mine just one day a year for Earth Day. However, I then began doing it one day a week at one of my elementaries and would be happy to talk more about the logistics of that. Feel free to shoot me an email if you would like the document, slindley@doe.in.gov :)
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Sophie Lindley
Original Message:
Sent: 05-17-2024 12:19:40 PM
From: Jessica Budde
Subject: Cafeteria Composting Programs
Hey Gardening Community,
I wanted to reach out and see if anyone has any advice on starting a cafeteria composting program. I am at an elementary school in Bartlett, TN and would like to start a composting program in our school cafeteria. However, I know ZERO about composting nor where to start. I have a lot of thoughts and ideas for where the program could go, but not many on how to get it started :). Any help and/or resources would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
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Jessica Budde
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