School Organics Collection for On-Site & Off-Site Composting

Meeting Notes 

Click link above to see all Organics meeting notes and action items in chronological order

Templates, Reports, Surveys & Data

Cambridge Composting Resources

• Launching Lunchroom Composting in 5 easy steps 

• STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO LUNCHROOM COMPOSTING 

• Lunchroom Set-Up

• School Sustainability Memo 

• Best Practices For A Successful Program

• Cafeteria Volunteer Guide

East Longmeadow Cafeteria Guide:

• Step 1: Liquid Pour Off

• Step 2: Empty Cartons

• Step 3: Recycle

• Step 4: Compost

• Step 5: Trash

MA Green SWoRD Reducing Food Waste at Schools  MA School Waste Reduction and Diversion Working Group (Green SWoRD) and The Green Team resources including information on the MA State Waste Ban on food waste threshold, food waste estimation guides by school type and sample school food waste collection setups

Complying with the Commercial Organics Waste Disposal Ban  Reduce, donate and compost

School Composting Resources  Commercial composting sites and haulers, MassDEP resources

Winchester cost analysis for elementary composting

Brookline School Compost Guide 2022

Cambridge Lunchroom Composting in 5 Easy Steps

North Reading Sample Letter to Superintendent re: Composting

North Reading Composting Presentation

Composting in Franklin Schools News Clip

Other Resources

The Green Team - Recycling & Composting Signage  THE GREEN TEAM has created easy-to-download signage that can be used for a variety of waste programs, including recycling, composting, share tables, and more! The signs were developed using guidance from Recycle Smart MA and our experience working with schools across the state. Signs are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese with more languages coming soon!  .

The Green Team - Reducing Food Waste at School  In light of the Massachusetts Food Waste Disposal Ban and growing popularity of school gardens and composting, THE GREEN TEAM has compiled a list of links, lesson plans and how-to’s to help teachers introduce these topics into their classrooms and schools. If your school is interested in implementing a food waste diversion or composting program, please request help on the registration form or email THE GREEN TEAM. We have resources to help you start a compost program, request free equipment, and offer expert technical assistance. We’d love to help! .

MassDEP Commercial Organic Materials Waste Ban Guidance for Businesses, Institutions, and Haulers - January 2022  Your questions about the organics ban answered.

RecyclingWorks MA Food Waste Estimation Guide

RecyclingWorks MA Waste Ban Compliance Tips for Colleges & Universities

Hands to Earth  Suggestions for Starting a School Composting and Gardening Program

CET Reducing Food Waste in K-12 Schools: Strategies for Prevention, Donation, and Recycling Webinar  Learn about share tables, external food donation, and more. 

StopWaste's Cafeteria Sorting Station Rollout Guide  StopWaste’s Cafeteria Sorting Station Rollout Guide provides some of the considerations and best practices to keep in mind as you build towards a successful sorting program at your school. This guide utilizes the 5-Step Action-Based Learning Model as a framework.  

StopWaste's Meal Sorting Station Guide  StopWaste’s Meal Sorting Guide illustrates one of the best practices in setting up your indoor or outdoor meal sorting station – placing the bins in an order that will encourage proper sorting.