This presentation documents a partnership between K-12 schools, a university, and local government to divert organic food waste from the waste stream (landfills or incinerators) into compost. The study included an audit of organic food waste generated by an local elementary school and documents and discusses the steps involved in developing collaborative partnerships of this kind. At the level of societal education on food waste, the project involved two groups of K-12 students: high school science students who helped to conduct the audit, and elementary (4th grade) students who helped to sort and process the organic food waste from their school’s cafeteria. University students in a teacher education program helped to facilitate the project, learning about the feasibility and desirability of waste-reduction projects of this kind.

Organic matter in the waste stream is a major cause of greenhouse gases and adds significantly to global warming. Organic material thrown away in the US typically ends up in a landfill, where anaerobic (low oxygen) action produces methane gas as the material rots. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas: over a 20-year period, it has the effect of contributing 80 times more to global warming than carbon dioxide. Furthermore, while Waste-to-Energy plants that incinerate waste and only produce CO2 appear to be a better option, their efficiency is greatly reduced by food waste, largely owing to its moisture content. In contrast, composting this organic water is a far better option both for climate change and to combat loss of soil fertility.

School cafeterias produce a considerable amount of food waste. Usually that food waste goes directly into the solid waste stream and is placed in a land fill where it decomposes into methane. Little is known about the amount of food waste produced by a school. And perhaps even less about composting systems that could be used by students to combat the problem. This pilot study sought to bring together a team of professionals to learn the amount about the of food waste produced by a school cafeteria by doing a waste audit at a local elementary school. And to design a composting system run predominately by students. While the findings of the study will be specific to this school it will be helpful both to the local program and to others trying to implement a program with similar goals.

Gonzaga University’s Institute for Climate Water and the Environment has long been a regional leader in Climate Education. Gonzaga University’s Teacher Education Department has for decades been involved in partnering with local schools in curriculum development and outreach related to the environment. On-Track Academy is an alternative high school that has been actively composting on a small scale with her students for years. The third partner is the Waste Reduction Education and Outreach coordinator of the city of Spokane’s solid waste management department.

The paper will present the results of the audit of local school buildings, document progress made so far in the work to remove food waste from solid waste disposed of at these sites, and discuss options for moving forward with incorporation of three new schools that are in immediate proximity to On-Track Academy. This project has far-reaching impact, with pending state and federal educational funding for climate education.

Keywords: Global Warming, University K-12 , Government Partnerships Food Waste.