Click on the image to view the video "Cafeteria Food Waste Recycling."

In the 2005 school year, students at Galtier, Hancock, International Academy LEAP and Maxfield sorted their cafeteria food waste into a special bucket that was picked up by a pig farmer.

This year, all elementary schools will help the environment by sorting their cafeteria food waste.  This reduces our garbage bill and helps the environment.

County helpers will be out at the schools for breakfast and lunch, showing pre-selected volunteers how to sort out the food/beverage waste.  We have blue barrels for the food/beverage waste, and gray barrels for the packaging/trash waste.

In addition to saving money, benefits of this food waste recycling project include:

• Improved workers safety
• Increased cleanliness and reduced odors
• Better pest control
• Students take responsibility for their environment and their community

History: 

Effective April, 2003, Ramsey/Washington County created a County Environmental Charge (CEC), put on all materials that weren't being recycled.  If the material could be recycled, then there would be no tax. 

Fourth grade students Antwa Hughes and Kevis Hollins listen to Minneapolis Star Tribune photographer Richard Sennott

The tax estimates 70% on garbage hauling services not being recycled.

In an effort to avoid this tax, the Saint Paul School

Superintendent Carstarphen recieves the Sustainable St. Paul award from Mayor Coleman

District, Ramsey/Washington counties along with JL Taitt & Associates came up with a solution:  Livestock Feeding.

This page, along with the districts other efforts to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle can be found at www.recycle.spps.org