3 NJ Schools Selected to Participate in Food Waste Reduction Program
on Sep 23, 2021
Delran Middle, George L. Catrambone Elementary and Halstead Middle to receive $25,000 grant and technical assistance
Today, Sustainable Jersey for Schools announced the three schools that were selected to receive a $25,000 grant and technical assistance as part of the Sustainable Jersey School Food Waste Pilot Program. The goal of the program is to support schools in implementing best practices for reducing food waste and develop a model to be shared with schools across the state.
The Sustainable Jersey School Food Waste Pilot Program recipients are:
- Burlington County: Delran Middle School, Delran Township
- Monmouth County: George L. Catrambone Elementary School, Township of Long Branch
- Sussex County: Halstead Middle School, Newton Township
The grants will allow each school to purchase equipment for on-site composting and to implement other food waste reduction strategies such as share tables and donation of unwanted food. The technical assistance will include on-site training, student learning materials and implementation support through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Food Waste Team.
“Congratulations to the three schools selected for the program. Now more than ever, we need our school leaders to emphasize and more importantly to showcase best practices for food waste reduction in New Jersey schools,” said Sustainable Jersey Executive Director Randall Solomon. “This grant and the technical assistance provide each school the opportunity to serve as a research partner and case study for other schools as we work to develop a healthier and more sustainable New Jersey.”
In September 2019, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection released School Food Waste Guidelines for K-12 schools. The Sustainable Jersey School Food Waste Pilot Program will work with the three grant recipients to implement the food waste guidelines and serve as case studies for inclusion in an updated School Food Waste Toolkit produced by Sustainable Jersey and the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Food Waste Team.