School Waste Reduction, Recycling, and Composting
School Waste Reduction and Recycling
Schools teach lessons beyond those in textbooks. They can provide an introduction to the concept of waste and the benefits of preventing and diverting it. Schools also are important source of recyclable materials, making them the perfect place to reinforce positive behaviors in students and create lifelong recycling habits. Schools with effective recycling and composting programs aren't just eco-friendly, they're budget heroes too! Smart waste management strategies help the planet and pocket serious savings. Go green, save green – that's the school spirit!
Establishing a robust and enduring waste management program at school requires collaboration, dedication, and a well-thought-out plan. Numerous success stories in North Carolina and beyond offer inspiration, while plenty of valuable resources are available to guide the way.
Although individual schools and school districts are not directly eligible for state recycling assistance grants, municipalities, and counties can apply on behalf of schools to help start or improve recycling programs. Contact your local solid waste or recycling director to explore possible grant applications.
Waste Reduction and Recycling Resources and Model Programs
- A Guide for Implementing a School Recycling Program
- Free school recycling promotion materials Request Form
- School Recycling Best Practices
- K-8 school recycling campaign - Recycle Guys
- Downloadable posters and decals - Recycle Right NC
- NC General Statute 115C-47 - Section 41 encourages recycling in public schools
- The US Environmental Protection Agency's School Recycling Toolkit
- Wake County's Feed the Bin School Recycling Program
- North Carolina's EnviroSmart Schools Solid Waste Resources
- Chatham County's Don't Waste It! Educator Guide
Food Waste Prevention and Recovery in Schools
According to the national non-profit ReFED, in 2023, K-12 schools in NC generated 20,500 tons of food waste. At the same time, 1 in 5 children in NC face hunger. Schools have the opportunity to help in both areas by making a few logistical adjustments.
- Implement strategies like Offer versus Serve, new menu item taste tests, and coming up with creative names for dishes. Providing choices and making meals interactive encourages kids to get involved with what they eat.
- Consider scheduling recess before lunch. This can improve students' appetites and encourage them to spend the lunch period eating instead of rushing to go outside.
- Allow students to keep shelf-stable food items for consumption later in the day.
- Set up a share table where students can place specific items they aren't going to eat for other, hungry students to take without having to ask. If this isn't possible, look into collecting surplus food to donate to nearby shelters or other charitable organizations.
Educate students, parents, teachers, and staff about the importance of food and reducing food waste with the resources below!
Food Waste Prevention and Recovery Resources
- Food Matters Action Kit
- Food Waste Prevention Week: K-12 Schools
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Guidance on Educating Youth About Wasted Food
- Environmental Law Institute's Toolkit for Implementing Share Tables in Municipal Schools
- The National Resources Defense Council's Issue Brief: Wasting Less Food in K-12 Settings: Best Practices for Success
School Composting
Composting is the controlled decomposition of organic material like leaves, food scraps, and yard trimmings in an aerobic environment (one with oxygen). The process results in a nutrient-dense material that can be used to improve soils. There are many methods of composting, and schools across our state are doing it in a variety of ways to reduce the impact of their organic waste!
Composting keeps valuable organic material out of North Carolina's landfills, which also helps eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. According to the US Department of Education's most recent data, North Carolina has 354 school districts with 2,716 schools. With those schools generating 20,500 tons of wasted food each year, the benefits of teaching and supporting school composting programs are greater than ever. School composting reduces the weight of bags being lifted into dumpsters, which saves staff effort and potential injury. It can also reduce the frequency of collection or size of container for trash service, while turning the cafeteria and the garden into classrooms!
Composting Resources and Model Programs
What method of composting works best?
Before getting started, a school must determine what type of composting they'll use. A big factor in this decision is what scale the program should be.
Small: Worm (vermicomposting) bins can be placed in a classroom and provide hands-on lessons in environmental science.
Medium: On-site/Garden bins
School gardens have all the ingredients for composting. Two- or three-bin enclosed wooden and/or plastic composting systems are typically appropriate for school gardens. These systems are designed simply with multiple bins to allow for multiple stages of compost production. The bins protect against rats and other critters while still letting in air and making aeration convenient.
Large: Commercial hauler
If diverting all organic cafeteria waste is the goal of a composting program, the best strategy is to contract with a commercial hauler and processor. This approach allows program managers to focus on education and program improvement, while the actual composting is handled at a composting facility.
More information on composting and developing a program can be found in the resources section.