Diverting food waste in school kitchens and cafeterias is catching on in central Vermont! The CVSWMD School Composting Program, recipient of the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence and Pollution Prevention, develops composting programs for elementary, middle, and high school cafeterias and kitchens. Our free training program offers all of the technical and hands-on information and materials needed to successfully transition students and staff to food waste diversion. District staff will continue to work with your school to ensure the program works for you over time.

Why Take Part?

Food waste makes up a lot of the trash produced at schools every day, and it's material that doesn't need to be treated like garbage! When diverted to composting, food waste becomes a resource that can be used to replenish nutrients in soils to grow more food. In addition, participating schools are encouraged to renegotiate their trash contracts which may reduce disposal bills.

Diverting food waste to composting has many benefits for the school community. To learn more about the program and how your school can take part, contact:

CVSWMD outreach coordinator at 802-229-9383 or e-mail outreach@cvswmd.org

Materials for Participating Schools

Note: The following are some of the components of our School Composting Program. While we’re always happy to answer questions about our program, the poster and training video are for use by participating schools only.

• CVSWMD Training Video: The video we use in schools to teach about the whys and hows of food waste diversion. To receive a copy, please e-mail: outreach@cvswmd.org
• CVSWMD School Cafeteria Poster: The poster we use in elementary and middle-school cafeterias to serve as a visual reminder of what goes in the food waste bucket - and what doesn't. Contact outreach@cvswmd.org.
• Do the Rot Thing: A Teacher's Guide to Compost Activities: This activity booklet, originally produced by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority (CA), includes classroom activities and student project ideas. Click here to download (PDF - 2.5 MB)
• Spinning Scraps into Soil: Classroom Activities using a compost tumbler: This CVSWMD booklet was developed to support school efforts with on-site composting by using the composting process as a means to scientific inquiry. The booklet draws on activities developed and/or published by Cornell University. Although designed for use with a tumbler compost unit, most of the activities can be adapted for use with traditional backyard bins. Click here to download (PDF - 2.3 MB)