Reusables in the Cafeteria: A School District’s Journey to Zero Waste

Room: 207
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am

This session will delve into the realities of a school district level change to reusable food ware in the cafeterias and the many positive impacts on waste, the environment and overall nutrition that moving to reusable food ware has done for the Fremont Unified School District. The Center for Environmental Health will explain the upmost importance switching to reusable food ware has on our student’s health and the potential waste and cost reductions associated with transitioning from disposables to reusables. FUSD will share their challenges and triumphs with the reusables food ware pilot program at 10 of their elementary schools. The Nutrition Policy Institute will present the plate waste data collected to describe impacts on student participation, nutrition and waste associated with the transition to reusables in comparison to disposable food ware.

Switching to reusable food ware is becoming a popular topic for its solution for waste reduction and greater health benefits. But it can also be a daunting task. Hearing how a large school district made the switch and all that it entails may help show how it’s possible. From district planning and partnership connections to funding sources and implementation, our session will give a case study style overview of the process. Our panel consists of not only the school district recycling coordinator, but one of the key partners from the Center for Environmental Health and a project policy analyst from the Nutrition Policy Institute. Being able to ask questions to this panel can provide a wealth of knowledge in determining best practices for your own school.

Learning Objectives:

1) Ability to explain the health benefits of reusable food ware as opposed to disposable food ware.
2) Tools needed to navigate district challenges in establishing a reusables program
3) Identify potential waste and cost savings associated with switching to reusable food ware at school sites.
4) Key data points regarding the positive impacts a reusables program has on student nutrition, participation, waste reduction and campus culture.

Speakers:

Stephanie Willits, Recycling Coordinator, Fremont Unified School District
Ben Schleifer, EDC Food Program Coordinator, Center for Environmental Health
Celeste Felix, Project Policy Analyst, Nutrition Policy Institute

Speaker Photos and Bio’s Coming Soon!

---