Elementary schoolers waste no time learning about food systems
An Old Hammondtown School student sorts through food waste. Photo source: Marion Institute
Rochester Memorial students compost their food. 
Emmet Luiz composts unwanted food at Old Hammondtown. 
Rochester Memorial students learn where to put their food for the activity.
An Old Hammondtown School student sorts through food waste. Photo source: Marion Institute
Rochester Memorial students compost their food.
Emmet Luiz composts unwanted food at Old Hammondtown.
Rochester Memorial students learn where to put their food for the activity.
About one-third of all food produced globally is wasted, with even higher levels in the U.S.
Elementary schoolers across the Old Rochester Regional School District audited their schools for such waste and learned about food systems through the Marion Institute’s Grow Education program.
The program is a partnership between the Marion institute and public schools to teach students where food comes from, why it matters and how it connects to their health and environment.
During the workshop, students sorted food waste from their school into landfill, compost, and animal feed categories.
At Old Hammondtown School about half of this waste — 8.5 pounds — was repurposed for animal feed. Rochester Memorial School students composted about 11 pounds of waste, while sending 8 pounds to the landfill. Students at Sippican School were able to repurpose about 2 pounds of waste and compost about 5 pounds.
The activity was designed to help kids understand their role as consumers and the environmental impacts of that consumption. It also encouraged critical thinking about food systems, waste reduction, and opportunities to divert organic material away from landfills.
