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
Best Practices and Lessons Learned
August 7, 2025
From program implementation to sustainable practices - this presentation shows it all! Be sure to see the end of the presentation for resources that were created and used throughout the year to get students involved, organized and successful!
October 23, 2025
10-23-2025 Recording - Please note that the recording suddenly stopped around 15 minutes into the meeting and was then restarted. The first 15 minutes of the meeting are missing.
Presentation - Marissa Perez-Dormitzer - Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District
Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District describes their journey to implement waste reduction programs in New Bedford and Dartmouth schools. From recycling to food waste collection to reusable food ware and dishwashers – learn about their struggles and successes!
January 14, 2026
Learn how Courtney Forrester and her team utilized the Liberating Structures framework to develop Harvard’s first zero waste plan. Courtney highlights how this framework supported collaboration, engaged key stakeholders, and what made the approach effective. This framework can help you develop a team that feels heard and involved with implementing any new program in your school, even beyond waste reduction.
April 7, 2026
Hear from Amanda Crowley and Amber Keller, Waste Reduction Coordinators for the Town of Wellesley, as they explain how Wellesley Public Schools incorporated sustainability requirements into their food services RFP and contract, and how these efforts support the Town’s waste-focused Climate Action Plan goals.
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