Recycling at school can inspire students to care about the planet, understand where our resources come from, and examine the downstream impacts of our waste systems. Learning these lifelong skills at a young age will ensure that these basics will become a custom and taught to the generations to come.
Our goal with the True Food, No Waste initiative is to improve waste reduction in cafeterias by making internal changes to our operations and provide schools with adequate resources to educate and engage students on waste reduction, recycling, and composting. In 2019 CWS launched the 3 year True Food, No Waste action plan to reduce food waste in our cafeterias. In the past few years, schools have implemented waste sorting stations, improved share tables, and empowered student Green Teams. In addition, 80% of our schools are equipped with on-site kitchens, which have allowed us to drastically reduce our waste from pre-packaged foods while serving our students nutritious meals cooked from scratch.
As part of our True Food, No Waste initiative, we also work in close partnership with MPS Plant Operations: each schools’ team of custodians ensure that trash, recycling, and compost are properly managed. Learn more about Plant Operations and find your school’s senior custodian’s contact information here.
For more updates on True Food, No Waste, including resources and grant opportunities, subscribe to the Whole Carrot, our department e-newsletter.
True Food, No Waste: Fill out our Contact Us form
School recycling: Contact your Senior Custodian
Presentations and general recycling questions: Kira Berglund Hennepin County Kira.Berglund@hennepin.us; 612-596-1498
Kellie Kish City of Minneapolis Kelliekish@minneapolismn.gov; 612-673-3536
Seven Generations Ahead Webinar (2021)
NDRC Blog Post Featuring CWS (2019)
In-Person Meals
Meal Boxes
All CWS Packaging
NEW - Back to School Recycling
Starting Organics Recycling in Your Cafeteria
Education & Outreach for Cafeteria Recycling
Home Sustainability Education Resources
Waste Sorting Game (Teacher Key)
Container Signs (Recycling, Organics, Trash)
Reusable Dishware Signs (Save the Silverware, Dish Drop)
America Recycles Day 2020 (English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali)
True Food, No Waste Action Plan
Education
Implementation
Signage