Food Scrap Collection Program Expanded in NYC Public Schools

[Most, Mary]

Tuesday, October 7, 2014 - Press release from NYC Department of Sanitation:

Food Scrap Collection Program Expanded in NYC Public Schools
Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña today announced a substantial expansion of the Department’s in-school organics collection program. Beginning October 6, more than 720 schools will be part of the program, more than a doubling the size of last year’s program.

The Organics Collection Program aims to keep organic materials – food scraps, soiled paper, and yard waste – from ending up in a landfill. These materials make up about one-third of our waste stream, and are recyclable. Organic materials may be turned into compost or processed into natural gas.

“We are very thankful to the Department of Education for partnering with us to bring expanded recycling programs to city schools,” said Sanitation Commissioner Garcia. “The partnership exemplifies how two large agencies can work together to make great strides to improve sustainability.”

Schools in all five boroughs receive separate collection of organics, including all public schools in Manhattan and Staten Island, and selected schools in Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx.

“Our children are learning the importance of preserving our natural resources through initiatives like the Organics Collection Program,” Chancellor Carmen Fariña said. “Programs like these are integral for the health of our environment, and this expansion to schools in all boroughs is a great step. Commissioner Garcia and her team are leading the way for a healthier City through this important partnership.”

Schools participating in organics collection can recycle approximately 90 percent of their waste, allowing only 10 percent of a school’s waste to end up in a landfill.

“The program puts renewed interest in waste management and recycling inside schools,” continued Commissioner Garcia. “When we teach children to recycle in their school, they will often encourage their families to recycle at home.”

In addition to organics recycling, the Department of Sanitation also works with city schools on paper and cardboard recycling, metal, glass, plastic and carton recycling, and waste reduction.

For more information on organics recycling in city schools, visit www.nyc.gov/organics.

 

Mary Most

Public Information & Outreach Specialist

NYC Department of Sanitation | Recycling and Sustainability

mm...@dsny.nyc.gov 

212.437.4661

 

Website | Newsletter | Twitter | Facebook

 

* * * * * *

 

 

 

[MARIO BRO]

Hi Mary, or school like many others makes students take food from the lunch room whether they eat it or not then at the end of each lunch period we have tables full of uneaten and in may cases still sealed food items.  They are not allowed to take it back in or even donate them to a food bank or charity.  It kills me to see it all go into the trash with all the other food that in many cases is barely eaten as well.  Is there a program which would allow them to contribute this food to a food bank or will the only option be to have it put into a recycling program like the one outlined in your email

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Educating Tomorrow" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to educating-tomor...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to educating...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/educating-tomorrow.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[Most, Mary]

Mario, please direct your question about lunchroom leftovers to DOE SchoolFood, not to Sanitation. I’m not an expert on the DOE policies.  

 

In the meantime, we’re happy to collect food scraps separate from plastics, paper, and garbage.  Most schools are working out ways to teach the students to “bus” their own lunch tables, including remove the food from the plastic wrap so it can be composted. Some schools do ask the School Aides to clean up after the kids; personally I’d prefer if our kids are expected to clean up after themselves.

 

You can see our training videos (and student videos, too!) at www.nyc.gov/organics.  

[MARIO BRO]

Thanks Mary, They do clean up after themselves but it ends up all in the trash, I am interested in donating the untouched food items and composting the rest.  Is therea contact person/number/email for someone at DOE SchoolFood that you know of?