Material Generated, Discarded and Recovered at South Carolina’s Public Schools

A new study evaluated the waste generated (recycled, composted, donated or sent to the landfill) during a one-day period at one elementary school, one charter school (K-8), two middle schools and two high schools.

Here are the key findings.

1. Schools generate waste. Lots of it. The student per capita waste generation at the six schools ranged from a half to 1 pound. Taking the lowest number, 0.5, and multiplying by 775,000 students means that schools generate – at minimum – an estimated 387,500 pounds of waste every day.

2. The majority of the waste generated at schools could be recovered through prevention, recycling and composting. The study revealed that five of the six schools could have recovered more than half of their waste being sent to the landfill. In fact, four of the schools could have recovered more than 60 percent of their waste. See the table in the right-hand column for additional information.

3. Given the amount of waste generated that could have been recovered, waste reduction, recycling and composting should be considered integral components of waste management. Landfills are not the only option. There are a variety of proven options, strategies and practices available to schools – including many that are no to little cost – that will reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill.

4. Unwanted food provides the biggest opportunity to reduce waste. Food was the top item disposed of in three schools and second-highest in the other three. At two schools, food comprised more than half of their waste. Overall, the amount of unwanted food in the waste stream ranged from 32 to 55 percent. Schools have the opportunity to turn the cafeteria into a classroom by implementing strategies and practices for both staff and students to reduce waste.

5. Share tables are a quick, easy way to reduce food waste and help those in need. Two of the six schools in this study had share tables plus one school piloting a program – all were successful. Conversely, about 35 percent of the food sent to the landfill from one school was unwanted fruit and unopened milk and juice containers that could have been easily rescued. It is estimated that by using a share table or donating this school could have diver