Methods for recycling and reducing food waste in schools

Food waste in schools is a significant environmental issue which requires immediate action. Thousands upon thousands of meals are served every day across educational institutions, leading to excess leftovers and food waste. This causes serious harm to both the environment and the economy. But how can we effectively recycle and reduce food wastage in schools?

We share some practical solutions for managing and recycling the amount of school food waste below…

Why is school food waste a problem?

Reports show that over 80,000 tonnes of food waste is generated across England’s primary and secondary schools every year. Schools are responsible for producing 13% of England’s non-domestic food waste, costing the economy a staggering £250m. The majority of school food waste ends up in landfill, where it produces harmful greenhouse gases such as methane. This has a significant impact on global warming, causing irreversible damage to our climate, environment and human health.

How to raise awareness on food waste in schools

Monitor food waste

The first step to reducing food waste is to monitor which types of food are wasted the most. Collect and weigh all food waste produced within the school cafeteria, classrooms, staff room and playground within a set period to determine which food options are unpopular and disliked by students. This will help you make smarter choices about which foods can continue to be served, and which meals need altering.

Involve the students

One easy way to prevent food waste in schools is by encouraging students to share their ideas. Engage your students by conducting fun taste testing sessions, putting on cooking classes, letting them vote on menu choices and holding competitions to name menu items. By involving students in the process, schools can create menus that students will be more likely to enjoy, leading to less food wastage in the long term. 

Create a smart menu 

Once you’ve completed the initial food waste audit and have asked your students for their ideas, you can begin to compile a smart menu that will inspire and excite your pupils. We recommend being clever about your choice of ingredients and using them in multiple dishes throughout the school week. You could also offer customisable menu options, so that students can remove any elements they won’t enjoy i.e. side salad.

Cook to order

Another way to reduce food waste in schools is by cooking meals to order. Students can choose their meals in advance, either at the beginning of the week or the beginning of the day. This will allow your catering team to plan portions better and only order the required ingredients, leading to minimal kitchen wastage. Plus, meals cooked to order will be much fresher and tastier, meaning your students will enjoy them more. 

Faster queues

When students are required to queue for a long time, they will have less time to eat their food and will be more likely to waste items. Students at the end of the queue will also have less menu options to choose from, leading to unwanted food choices that will end up in the bin. Allowing your students to pre-order their meals will help to speed up cafeteria queues, ensuring that each child can savour their food before the school bell rings.

Portion control

Providing appropriate portion sizes can significantly reduce food wastage levels. This will help ensure that students receive enough food to satisfy their hunger, without producing excess leftovers. You could offer all students smaller portions and give them the opportunity to ask for more, or you could allow each individual to select their portion based on the different meal sizes available.

Staggered lunch periods

One of the main reasons why school food waste occurs is because students don’t have enough time to finish their lunch. Try staggering the lunch breaks and making each slot longer, with younger students eating earlier than their older peers. As well as giving pupils enough time to enjoy their food, staggering your lunch slots will ensure that the cafeteria is quieter and more pleasant to eat in.

Composting scheme

If your school does not yet have a composting scheme, now is the perfect time to introduce one.  Encourage students and staff members to help divert food scraps from landfills and create valuable soil for school gardens via composting. Getting children involved in composting will teach them how to sustainably manage waste, with the resulting compost being used to grow more fruits and vegetables.

Sustainable waste management solutions for schools

Choose McCarthy Marland’s comprehensive range of food waste collection bins, as well as glass and non-recyclable waste bins, as part of your school’s waste management services. 

Our services are designed to help educational institutions maintain a clean, healthy, and eco-friendly environment. Our food waste bins for schools help staff to segregate and manage waste effectively, whilst our flexible school waste collection schedules cause minimal disruption to the school day. All food waste collected by McCarthy Marland is processed through an anaerobic digestion facility, with the gas produced from the process being used to operate our food waste collection vehicles. 

Get in touch today to arrange a waste management assessment for your school.