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MAKE AN IMPACT

Why is waste reduction important?

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It's good for the environment

Food residuals that ends up in a landfill takes up space without providing any benefit. Recycling organic waste creates compost and/or clean energy. 

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It saves money

Throwing food away is throwing money away! Both your family and taxpayers save money when food isn't wasted. 

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It teaches responsibility

Participating in the recycling process helps kids learn to be responsible. It helps them learn to avoid waste, and engages them in being part of the solution!

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4 TIERS OF WASTE REDUCTION

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Improve Efficiency Up Front

  • Food Services carefully plans menus and order quantities. Every effort is made to order enough food, but not too much. 

  • Considerations such as the age of the children help with planning. Avoiding foods that are unappealing to the student demographics prevents waste.

  • Utilizing frozen foods helps food service workers portion out only what is needed, while reserving the remaining food for future meals.

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Divert Leftover Food to Feed People

  • Unopened, unpeeled, and uneaten food from the lunchroom can be placed on a Share Table for other kids to enjoy.

  • If there is an excess of food collected for the Share Table, it can be donated into the community.

  • Kids who bring lunch to school are encouraged to take unopened food home to enjoy another day.

  • Ensuring safe, sharable food goes to feed people is always the highest priority!

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Divert Food Waste to Feed Animals

  • Schools that are associated with an agricultural program and/or are located in a rural area may be able to divert food scraps to feed animals.

  • Feeding animals with food scraps is even more efficient and beneficial than composting or creating clean energy!

  • There are regulations to ensure animal and environmental safety, so it's a good idea to seek guidance if you'd like to implement this at your school.

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Recycle Remaining Food Residuals (Composting or Anaerobic Digestion)

  • Any remaining food residuals can be composted to help grow even more food!

  • Some schools may divert their food residuals to an anaerobic digester. Anaerobic digestion is a process in which the food breaks down into gases that create clean energy.

  • Either of these approaches keeps waste out of landfills, which is always a good thing!

EXPLORE RESOURCES

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