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Waste Reduction
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True Food, No Waste

True Food, No Waste
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Click to read about our plan.

Recycling at school can inspire students to care about the planet, to examine the resources that we use to make our world sustainable, to look at the consequences of using resources and generating pollution and waste. Learning these lifelong skills at a young age will ensure that these basics will become a custom and taught to the generations to come. 

 
MPS is the recipient of a $50,000 School Recycling Grant from Hennepin County! Twelve Schools are receiving new equipment and resources to begin or improve their school's recycling program. Other schools interested in improving recycling efforts are encouraged to use this page as a resource. During the 2018-2019 school year MPS is hosting a GreenCorps member that is available to assist schools with recycling education, resources, and data tracking.

Reduce

In an effort to reduce food waste, additional signage has been implemented informing students to only take what they can eat. Signage has also been developed to remind staff and students that milk is option at meal time, not a requirement. Back of house operations are also working on food waste prevention education and best practices.

Reuse

Many schools have share tables in the cafeteria. Efforts are being taken to standardize the appearance, increase communications, and develop better signage for share tables in all cafeterias.

Recycle

At present, 35 of 70 MPS schools separate their cafeteria waste into food scraps, recycling, and trash, enabling food scraps to be collected for composting off-site. In 2018 MPS was the recipient of a $50,000 School Recycling Grant from Hennepin County. With this grant, MPS will be working to standardize waste-sorting protocols, equipment, and education across the district. Additionally, organics recycling programs will be expanded to include ten additional schools and programs will be improved at two.
 
Contact for in-school presentations or attendance at events:
 
• Hannah Arvold
  MPS Culinary & Wellness Services, haarv099@mpls.k12.mn.us; 612-668-2859
• Kira Berglund
  Hennepin County, kira.berglund@hennepin.us; 612-596-1498
• Kellie Kish
  City of Minneapolis, kellie.kish@minneapolismn.gov; 612-673-3536
• Michelle Howard
  City of Minneapolis, michelle.howard@minneapolismn.gov; 612-673-2789
 
Have questions about MPS True Food, No Waste efforts or want to get involved? Contact:
Hannah Arvold
​MPS Culinary & Wellness Services, GreenCorps Member
​haarv099@mpls.k12.mn.us | (612) 688-2859
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