Food Rescue MAINE team launch new study to continue reducing wasted food in school cafeterias

Four school districts across Maine were able to reduce their food waste by 20% by participating in a 2023 study conducted by University of Maine researchers. To build on the learning and momentum around reducing wasted food in Maine school cafeterias, UMaine has launched a second Maine School Cafeteria Wasted Food Study with four school districts and support from the World Wildlife Fund.

Students from Brown Elementary School in South Portland, Sherwood Heights Elementary School in Auburn, Sugg Middle School in Lisbon and Easton Elementary School have been given various lessons and activities to learn how they can eat better and waste less food.

New share carts and school community fridges have been set up to allow students to give unopened food that can be eaten by other students or donated to feed the community. Students from kindergarten through eighth grade are learning to separate their food scraps from trash. Their food scraps can be used to feed animals or make compost that can grow new fruits and vegetables. The students weigh their daily food scraps to measure any changes.

“The Food Waste Study is a great opportunity for our students to see firsthand how their choices impact the environment and their community. It’s not just about reducing waste. It is also about learning to be responsible, thoughtful and resourceful,” said Brown Elementary School Principal Beth Kellogg. “By tracking what gets thrown away, students become more mindful of what they take, what they eat and how they can share or save food instead of wasting it. Additionally, we like filling student tummies more than filling landfills.”

The activities are part of the eight-week study developed by the Food Rescue MAINEstudent and faculty team from UMaine’s Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions. The study seeks to improve student nutrition and reduce wasted food through hands-on learning. 

Study co-leads Susanne Lee, Mitchell Center faculty fellow, and William Brenneman, UMaine graduate student, meet weekly with district school nutrition directors to plan the study implementation and also visit the schools to host engaging, school-wide “How Can You Reduce Wasted Food?” assemblies.

“Working with Food Rescue Maine perfectly complements my academic interests,” said Brenneman. “As a food anthropologist and master’s student in UMaine’s Anthropology & Environmental Policy program, I focus on connecting issues of food, nutrition, waste and society. The way this study hinges on communication and collaboration between our team and nutrition directors, teachers, cafeteria managers, custodians and students makes it a perfect microcosm of the larger food systems questions I tackle in the classroom.”

The full media release is available at UMaine News