Organic Waste Diversion in Schools
Effective separation of organic waste is critical to the success of an Organics Diversion program. Natur-Tec® biodegradable products help to improve efficiency, reduce costs and also improve processing at compost facilities and ensure a high-quality end product.
In 2007, a Minnesota Independent School District incorporated Natur-Tec® biodegradable and compostable bags into their district-wide composting program. The district is made up of 31 schools, with 28,000 students and 3,500 staff. All cafeterias in the district participate in the food waste collection program.
The rationale for beginning the composting program in 2003 was to reduce garbage hauling costs. Originally, food scraps and other organic materials were collected directly into unlined containers in the cafeterias which were then co-collected with non-organic bagged trash. When collected and hauled, the trash bags in the truck often ripped open and contaminated the organic waste.
Under the revised composting program, all organic waste is separated into collection bins lined with Natur-Tec® biodegradable and compostable can liners. The bags containing the organic waste are then collected by a local, commercial compost facility, who sells the resulting compost material to local landscapers that use the compost for school district land projects.
By using the Natur-Tec® bags the schools have been able to simplify and improve the efficiency of their organic waste diversion program as well as eliminate the contamination of the final compost material. The program has reduced district garbage tipping fees by nearly 25 percent. It has also drastically cut overall waste contribution to landfills. The program has been an effective way for administration, educators and students to learn the environmental and economic benefits of composting, as well as raise awareness of their own individual carbon footprint.
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