Environmental Management

Food Waste Composting in School Cafeterias

Charleston County Environmental Management Department's Greening Schools Program has collaborated with Charleston County School District (CCSD) to divert food waste generated in school cafeterias from the landfill.

In September 2012, Lambs Elementary School was the first school to participate in a food waste diversion pilot program utilizing a 3-way sort collection station in the cafeteria. Ten additional schools were added during the 2012-2013 school year to participate in this pilot.

Based on the success of the food waste diversion pilot, CCSD has recognized the benefits of food waste composting and has turned the pilot into a program by modifying the structure of their MSW management contract to include food waste collection services. The program expanded to include 33 schools by the end of the 2013-2014 school year. Ten elementary schools and eight middle schools are scheduled to be added for the 2014-2015 school year.