Programs

  • Food Waste Reduction and Redistribution Initiative

    On October 12, 2022, we launched Vartan Gregorian Elementary School in Fox Point. By Earth Day (April 22, 2023), the students diverted 3.5 tons of food waste from the landfill andFood Service Lead Ms. Cheryl and Art Teacher, Mr. M get input from the students at Vartan Gregorian redistributed 1,144 lbs. of healthy, edible food to hungry students and their families who are food insecure.Just three weeks later, we launched at Dr Martin Luther King Elementary School, our biggest elementary school at that time. Assistant Principal Maria Petrosinelli welcomed us with open arms, delighted to be teaming up to reduce cafeteria waste. We have conducted three food waste audits with the Rangers at MLK and here are some highlights:Food waste diverted from landfill: 4.3 Tons"Share Table" food recovered and redistributed: 1.1 TonsReduction in lunchroom waste going to the landfill: 90%We launched Zero Waste Days with students at Birchwood Middle School and LaPerche Elementary School, two of our Year One schools. The first Zero Waste Day took place at Birchwood on Wednesday, February 8th and was a huge success! We met with the 6th, 7th and 8th grade S.T.E.A.M. classes to plan it. Food waste was reduced by 66% from 51 lbs. to just 17 lbs. Almost all unnecessary food waste was eliminated so the food scraps were mostly banana peels and apple cores. Zero Waste Day was such a success that S.T.E.A.M. teacher Ms. Bowers scheduled a second one for Earth Week. And look at the results! Birchwood's food waste per student is now just 21.1 lbs. per year, 46% below the average for all middle schools in RI and just .5 lbs. from GOAL!
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jul 1, 2023 – Jun 30, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
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    $58.8K