Keeping Food Out of the Landfill: Research-Backed Solutions for K-12 Schools

A two-year initiative involving three elementary schools in Rockbridge County, Virginia, found that while diversion interventions did not reduce the total amount of food students discarded (plate waste), they successfully diverted nearly 100% of uneaten entrées, fruits, and vegetables from landfills. The project utilized on-site composting via Earth Cubes and off-site diversion to a local farmer for chicken feed. Over two school years, the program diverted 14,221.50 lbs of food, resulting in a reduction of 42.17 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) and $388.34 in avoided landfill fees.

• Students in the studied schools generated an average of 0.38–0.45 lbs. of plate waste per day, which represents 35–40% of the food served.
• The implemented diversion interventions did not change the total volume of plate waste generated by students, but they did significantly reduce the amount of food sent to landfills.
• The participating schools achieved nearly 100% diversion of leftover entrées, fruits, and vegetables through composting and chicken feed, while milk waste was diverted by pouring it on school grounds or down drains.
• Over the two-year study period, the total food diverted was 14,221.50 lbs, which avoided 42.17 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) in methane emissions and saved $388.34 in landfill fees.
• The success of the diversion efforts was attributed to several factors, including strong sustainability values, a dynamic community partner, student ownership and leadership, and a reliable daily sorting routine.

APA

WWF International (2026). Keeping Food Out of the Landfill: Research-Backed Solutions for K-12 Schools. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2609/2026_FWW_Keeping_Food_Out_of_the_Landfill_260416.1.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. Keeping Food Out of the Landfill: Research-Backed Solutions for K-12 Schools. 2026. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2609/2026_FWW_Keeping_Food_Out_of_the_Landfill_260416.1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=Keeping Food Out of the Landfill: Research-Backed Solutions for K-12 Schools |date=2026 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2609/2026_FWW_Keeping_Food_Out_of_the_Landfill_260416.1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2026keeping, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{Keeping Food Out of the Landfill: Research-Backed Solutions for K-12 Schools}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2609/2026_FWW_Keeping_Food_Out_of_the_Landfill_260416.1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }