This group was initially created in Northeast District 3 to establish a forum for peers to share information and help each other further waste reduction and diversion goals in K-12 schools. There was a hiatus due to Covid-19 and remote learning from 2020-2021. We have regrouped and expanded this working group statewide so that we can further our efforts and have contributors across the state.
We hope to address issues that all school districts face and form subgroups as needed:
Waste Ban Education and Enforcement for schools and food service contractors
Waste Ban Education and Enforcement for custodial staff
Adoption of School Recycling, Waste Reduction and Zero Waste Policies
Conversion from Single-Use Foodware to Dishwashers and Reusable Foodware in Schools
Covid-19 Issues including the Shutdown of Recycling and Composting Program and the Addition of more Single-Use Items
Best Practices and Lessons Learned
August 19, 2024
October 29, 2024
10-29-2023 Agenda
January 16, 2025
April 3, 2025
Brookline's School Composting Presentation & Data
At the time of the Fisher Hill, Runkle, and Baker audits, the schools were not yet composting (they were preliminary waste audits to see what percentage of the waste could be composted). Runkle and Fisher Hill are now both composting in their cafeterias, and Runkle is using reusable trays in their cafeteria. The waste audits at Hayes and Lincoln were more “program maintaining” waste audits to see how the existing composting program is doing and what sorts of contaminants are being found in their compost.
August 19, 2024
October 29, 2024
10-29-2023 Agenda
January 16, 2025
April 3, 2025
Brookline's School Composting Presentation & Data
At the time of the Fisher Hill, Runkle, and Baker audits, the schools were not yet composting (they were preliminary waste audits to see what percentage of the waste could be composted). Runkle and Fisher Hill are now both composting in their cafeterias, and Runkle is using reusable trays in their cafeteria. The waste audits at Hayes and Lincoln were more “program maintaining” waste audits to see how the existing composting program is doing and what sorts of contaminants are being found in their compost.
October 5, 2023
10-5-2023 Agenda
February 6, 2024
2-6-2024 Agenda
2-6-2024 Recording
2-6-2024 saved_chat
May 8, 2024
5-8-2024 Agenda
August 19, 2024
October 6, 2022
February 1, 2023
May 3, 2023
East Longmeadow:
Wakefield:
Video: Wakefield's Greenwood and Walton Food Rescue Program
August 2, 2023
Ben Schelifer from the Center for Environmental Health
November 4, 2021
February 10, 2022
May 19, 2022
August 3, 2022
September 16, 2020