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Beaverton School District
Beaverton School District

Beaverton Schools

Sustainability

At the Beaverton School District we are striving to increase the sustainability within our Nutrition Services program. We have successfully implemented practices to reduce our waste and increase our responsible usage of food resources. We are committed to implement additional sustainability practices in our operations where they make sense.

Sustainability Actions

Actions for food waste

  • Food scrap collection at 53 school kitchens.

Actions for paper use

  • Permanent compartment trays used at all elementary school sites.
  • Silverware use or pilots taking place at 7  school sites.
  • Discontinued use of plastic straws.
  • Switch to compostable, fiber or PLA service containers from plastic.

Actions for procurement

  • Approximately 35% of all items we serve are local products.
  • Items purchased with Farm to School Funds are all Oregon grown or processed.
  • Reduction in number of deliveries by Sysco in 19-20 by having sites move to every 2-week delivery.

Food Scrap Collection

The Beaverton School District, Nutrition Services Department participates in the mandatory Metro Policy for back of house food scrap collection in commercial businesses. Currently 53 Beaverton School kitchens capture organic waste which is picked up weekly by haulers and taken to composting facilities. 

40% of food produced in the U.S. goes to waste. Food waste is one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters because it releases a gas called methane that is 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide. We are participating in the collective goal to reduce the amount of food that ends up in landfills.

The following is a list of food waste currently being collected:

  • Fruits and veggies
  • Grains, (bread, rice, pasta)
  • Meat (chicken, beef)
  • Dairy (cheese, yogurt)
  • Leftovers, scraps
  • Spoiled food

The food scraps from participating restaurants, grocery stores, schools and other businesses across the region are converted to compost at facilities near Salem and Corvallis.