What Are the Challenges Schools Face Due to Waste Management Regulations?

Schools face certain challenges due to the existence of waste management regulations, such as concerns related to budget, technical knowledge, and cafeteria compatibility issues.

FREMONT, CA: The disposal of organic waste is one of the most pressing issues facing school districts and other local governments today. Organic waste that is not recycled contributes to climate change, methane pollution, and the massive and avoidable food waste problem in the United States. It is estimated that the U.S. sends 40 percent of the food it produces to landfills. Many states are enacting new regulations to address this issue.

California's governor signed Senate Bill 1383 into law in 2016 to reduce organic waste disposal by 75 percent by 2025. As cities and school districts strive to comply with regulations and avoid heavy penalties for noncompliance, the law is now catching up with them.

The following are some of the hurdles created by new waste management laws for schools:

The budget: Schools will need to acquire capital for waste management tasks such as collecting food scraps, donating unsold edible food to charities, purchasing bins, and finding related equipment. Additionally, waste management may require new personnel and job descriptions since fulfilling these regulations can require internal custodial staff resources, supervision, monitoring, reporting, and outside contractors, such as waste haulers.

Some larger districts may choose to fund additional sustainability or facilities staff to manage the implementation of new food waste collection programs. Budgetary realities imposed by these regulations must be taken into account by school districts in all cases.

Knowledge of technical topics: Most school districts lack the know-how to comply with new regulations, and collecting a significant percentage of clean food waste is not easy. Retraining students and staff on how to separate food is part of imparting technical knowledge. Students and staff must also learn how to use the new containers and other features properly, as not following legal procedures can result in penalties for the agency.

Often, schools will overcome this challenge by retaining consulting firms to develop and implement new systems. The consulting service may include education outreach or assistance in hiring staff who are experts in these regulations.

Cafeteria compatibility: The job of cafeteria management has always been challenging, but now it will be even more challenging. It's about fostering new habits, facilitating change, and even implementing new procedures. If meals are prepared on-site, the network of collection bins should extend to the prep and dining areas.

The packaging or plating of food is also a new challenge. Non-compostable single-use trays, for example, can be difficult to collect without becoming a contaminant in collection bins. Some school districts have replaced single-use condiment packets with bulk dispensers to reduce food waste.