Sustainable Jersey is working to help schools reduce waste and boost sustainability in their cafeterias and food service. We are developing practical guidance for best practices – from waste audits and campaigns to changes in procurement and cafeteria operations.
The “Sustainable School Food Service and Cafeterias” project will build on our prior work that created a food waste toolkit and introduced new food waste actions to the school certification program. The project will enhance the current actions and add new actions and resources.
The project’s objectives are to:
- Identify and develop guidance for a diverse range of practices and strategies that can reduce school food waste, including student engagement, staff training, district plans and policies, procurement, food service contracting, cafeteria operations, share tables, recycling, and composting.
- Engage up to seven school districts in a “Learning & Doing Cohort” to learn about and implement selected strategies.
- Produce a Sustainable Food Service Practices Implementation Guide for schools.
- Embed new guidance and resources in the Sustainable Jersey for Schools Certification program.
- Promote the new guidance; train and support schools in implementing the new and enhanced food waste actions.
Seeking Schools to Participate
We are seeking school districts to participate in a “Learning and Doing Cohort” from February 2026 to June 2027. Selected participants will learn about sustainable school food service and cafeteria practices and share their experiences in implementing selected practices, supported by grants of up to $15,000.
Interested? Fill out this form: bit.ly/4n6QSZp
Development of Guidance for Practices and Strategies to Reduce School Food Waste
Sustainable School Cafeterias: Perspectives from the Field – View the video and slides from our virtual forum held on October 9, 2025. Speakers from NJ school districts, food service management companies, NJ Department of Agriculture, Chef Ann Foundation, Humane World for Animals, and Association of NJ Recyclers share their knowledge, experience and resources to help schools reduce food waste and boost cafeteria sustainability.
Draft Practices and Strategies to Reduce School Food Waste – The guidance is being developed with the following inputs:
- Strategies shared and discussed at the Sustainable School Cafeterias Forum, held on October 9, 2025.
- Published studies, reviews, and information from national and state programs; nonprofit, academic and industry sources; and Sustainable Jersey’s existing actions and toolkit.
- Insights and feedback from an Advisory Network comprised of experts and practitioners in preK-12 education and school food service
Questions?
Contact Schools Outreach, Training & Special Projects Program Manager, Véronique Lambert at lambertv@tcnj.edu or 609-771-2469.