Amber Keller, Natick School Garden Educator
Amber Schmidt, ReThink Disposable
Ben Schleifer, Center for Environmental Health
Claudine Ellyin, MassDEP
Eleanor Chmielowicz, Brookline Assistant Recycling Coordinator
Fritzie Nace, Winchester Volunteer
Heather Billings, Center for EcoTechnology
Katara Harding, Newburyport Elementary School Teacher
Ken Stone, Plymouth Volunteer
Lin Jensen, Lexington Green Team
Margie Bell, Arlington Volunteer
Marissa Major, Center for EcoTechnology
Matthew DeMarrais, Needham Acting Superintendent, Recycling & Solid Waste
Patricia Fabbri, Lynnfield Recycling Committee
Samantha Salvatore, Center for EcoTechnology
Sarah Vular, MassToss
Shara Ertel, Newton Volunteer
Sonja Williams, Center for EcoTechnology
Tina McBride, Lexington Zero Waste & Green Team
Wendy Millar-Page, Winthrop Solid Waste & Recycling Manager
Click link above to see all Reusables meeting notes and action items in chronological order
Ditching Disposables Toolkit - Center for Environmental Health (CEH)
Best practices and resources to help your school or district transition from single-use disposables foodware to healthier, reusable alternatives. Includes a 12-step action plan that covers program design, purchasing, training, dishwashing, and more.
Best Management Practices for Reusable Containers - Recycling Works in MA
Vetted by the MA Department of Public Health and developed in collaboration with state and local health officials, MassDEP, restaurants and other stakeholders from the food service industry.
Cafeteria Tray Options - The Green Team
Benefits and considerations for three lunch tray options, as well as best practices for commercial dishwashers. Visit the corresponding webpage for more information, additional success stories, and cost savings analyses.
Reusable Foodware Purchasing Guide
Reusable product recommendations from The Surfrider Foundation and Clean Water Fund and Clean Water Actions’ ReThink Disposable program
Milk Dispenser Cost Analysis with Reusable Foodware - CEH
Cost analysis calculator to figure out the cost feasibility of purchasing a milk dispenser and reusable food ware to go with it.
Bedford Public Schools - Reusable Lunch Trays
With a grant from Plastic Free Restaurants, Bedford Public Schools were able to switch to stainless steel trays in 2024, saving the district saves over $11,700 and almost three tons of waste per year! This was the final phase of a district-wide cafeteria waste reduction program; since 2023, the district has implemented a food share table, and separating recycling, food scraps, and liquids from true trash.
New Bedford School District - Reusables and Food Waste Reduction
New Bedford Public Schools received a School Recycling Assistance Grant in 2019 through the MassDEP Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) to assist with the purchase and installation of 10 school dishwasher systems. District-wide, New Bedford Public Schools used 1,627,980 fewer Styrofoam trays in 2022-23 by purchasing and implementing a reusable tray program.
Georgetown Public Schools - Switch from Foam to Reusable Trays
The district partnered with Clean Water Action’s ReThink Disposable program to transition from disposable polystyrene meal trays to Ahimsa GreenScreen Certified stainless-steel trays, which were donated to the school with the support of a subsidy from Plastic Free Restaurants. Case study in progress!
Walpole Public School - Re:Dish Third-Party Warewashing
The district partnered with third-party warewashing service Re:Dish to transition from compostable to reusable trays. They started with Walpole Middle School and one elementary school, and within two months extended the program to the remaining four schools in the district. They expect to divert 270,000 trays and 126,000 plates from landfill annually.
Middletown, CT Public School District
The district saved over $121,000 per year!
MassDEP School District FSD Survey Response Summary
MassDEP School Survey Data, 2014
MassDEP received numerous requests from school districts to provide information and support regarding a switch from foam trays used in school cafeterias to more environmentally preferable foodservice ware, either compostable items or washable items (where dish washing machines are used). In an effort to learn more about what schools were using, the costs and impacts of these choices, and to assess interest in transitioning to products and processes that lighten our impact on the environment, a survey was developed and sent to all Massachusetts School Food Service Directors during the fall of 2014.
Plastic Free Restaurants Subsidies
Plastic Free Restaurants works to eliminate petroleum-based, single-use plastic from restaurants and schools by subsidizing the purchase of reusable replacements.
Chef Ann Foundation Bulk Milk Grants
Your municipality may have earned Recycling Dividends Program (RDP) funds that could be used for dishwashers and trays in your school(s). Reach out to your city/town or Municipal Assistance Coordinator (MAC) for more info.
Sustainable Materials Recovery Program (SMRP) Municipal Grant
Your municipality may have earned Recycling Dividends Program (RDP) funds that could be used for dishwashers and trays in your school(s). Reach out to your city/town or Municipal Assistance Coordinator (MAC) for more info.
MassDEP Reduce, Reuse, Repair Micro-Grant
Grant awards of $3,000 to $10,000 for short-term reuse and repair projects. MA schools are eligible to apply.
MA Operational Services (OSD) Division Contracts for Schools
Save money using statewide contracts. State Contract GRO40 for food service equipment and supplies.
Specifications for sustainable and climate preferable products and services on Statewide Contracts, fosters cost-effective responsible purchasing choices that help reduce impacts on public health and the environment, and works with agencies, departments, and others to encourage their use in public operations.
Reading, Writing, 'Rithmatic, Reuse - Upstream Podcast
Amber Schmidt from ReThink Disposable and Ben Schleifer from Center for Environmental Health share some key insights for getting reuse into schools.
A program of Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund that works with local governments, businesses and institutions, and consumers to stop waste from the start.
A New York City based national nonprofit that transforms school cafeterias into powerful youth action hubs.
Implementation guides, outreach materials and lesson plans for an annual plastic-free celebration.