Nine School Districts Selected to Lead Statewide Effort to Cut Cafeteria Food Waste
on Mar 03, 2026
Participating New Jersey school districts will reduce food waste and advance sustainable school food service practices
Today, Sustainable Jersey announced that nine school districts across seven New Jersey counties have been selected to participate in the Sustainable School Food Service & Cafeterias Initiative, a new statewide effort designed to reduce cafeteria waste, lower costs, and advance sustainable food service practices in K–12 schools.
A 2019 study by the World Wildlife Fund found that U.S. schools discard more than 530,000 tons of food annually, representing significant environmental, social, and financial losses. By tackling cafeteria waste, districts can conserve resources, cut disposal costs, recover unused food, and help students build lifelong sustainability habits.
The nine districts selected to lead this statewide initiative are:
Burlington County
• Palmyra Public School District
Hunterdon County
• Clinton Township School District
• Flemington-Raritan School District
Mercer County
• Trenton Public School District
Middlesex County
• New Brunswick Board of Education
Morris County
• Roxbury Township School District
Ocean County
• Brick Township Public Schools
• Jackson School District
Salem County
• Penns Grove–Carneys Point Regional School District
From February 2026 through June 2027, the districts will form a “Learning & Doing Cohort,” receiving training, peer support, and grant funding to implement practical strategies such as waste audits, share tables, improved procurement practices, and composting programs.
Each district will receive a $5,000 planning grant and will be eligible for a $10,000 cost-reimbursable implementation grant to support sustainable cafeteria practices in at least one school. Participating districts will conduct pre- and post-implementation waste audits to measure impacts and help shape future statewide guidance.
“Reducing food waste in schools is not just about shrinking the garbage pile,” said Véronique Lambert, program manager, Sustainable Jersey for Schools. “It’s about changing mindsets, building healthier habits, and investing in the next generation of environmental stewards. When schools take a hard look at their waste stream, they uncover opportunities not just to cut food waste, but to save money, reduce emissions, support students in need, and deliver meaningful, interdisciplinary learning.”
The Sustainable School Food Service & Cafeterias Initiative is funded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Gardinier Environmental Fund and is administered by the Sustainability Institute at The College of New Jersey, which manages the Sustainable Jersey program.