Schools Reduce Cafeteria Waste Through Compost, Sharing

U.S. schools are working to keep cafeteria food out of landfills through composting, food-sharing tables, recycling and changes to menus. At Lovin Elementary in Georgia, students collect scraps for compost, share unopened milk and feed leftover salad to chickens. The efforts address waste from a school system serving more than 30 million lunches daily and can reduce costs and landfill methane while giving students a role in solving the problem. Experts say effective approaches vary by school and work best when students, cafeteria staff and teachers help identify solutions.