Last May, the PTO contracted with a firm to collect and compost food waste. They collected approximately 750 pounds of food waste in four days, or 187.50 pounds of food waste per day, or .22 pounds per student per day.
The volume of food collected was 192 gallons in four days, or 48 gallons per day.) If this waste per student ratio is representative, and District 39 has approximately 3,600 students, then it is possible that District 39 produces nearly 800 pounds of food and compostable waste per day in our cafeterias, plus more from kitchen food preparation waste, staff lounge food waste and food waste from the MEC.
This Thanksgiving, take the pledge to reduce food waste in our schools and in your homes. Start by asking your child(ren) to bring home their uneaten food in their lunchbox/bag – so that you can see and maybe salvage what remains. Thanks!