The practice of separating unconsumed food from other kinds of waste into separate containers has found its way into all five schools in the Regional 4 School District.

The food scrap effort began during the 2022-’23 school year at Essex Elementary School after the town’s Sustainability Committee approached the school for a food scraps program in its cafeteria.

“Since that pilot, the sustainability committees of the towns of Deep River and Chester also expressed interest in adopting similar programs in their elementary schools, as well as John Winthrop Middle School and Valley Regional High School,” said Region 4 Superintendent Brian White.

The programs at all schools are supported financially by a grant of approximately $30,000 from Sustainable CT, an effort led by Essex Sustainability Committee member Kalyn Docchio. Community donations were also a source of support, said Deep River Sustainability Committee member Lenore Grunko.

The program’s place at all five district schools expands regionally the mission of the current pilot program of food scrapping at the Deep River transfer station in bringing food waste to in-state anaerobic digesters rather than to landfills in states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio.

“It’s bringing an awareness to the need to reduce trash and prevent us from shipping stuff out of state,” said Grunko.

White shares that view, seeing food scrapping and other sustainability practices as beneficial for district schools and students to partner with concerned residents and instill environmentally conscious habits.

“These programs have provided an opportunity for our schools to partner with civic-minded citizens in a manner that benefits the environment while modeling eco-friendly practices for our students,” said White.

The food scraps program is not the first time students, staff, and residents within the district have seen the need for more sustainable methods of waste and energy use at schools.

“It is worth noting that students and staff members in many of our schools have supported sustainable practices prior to the food scrap proposals. Examples of these efforts include school-based green teams and environmental clubs,” said White.

The Region 4 Board of Education (BOE) has worked in the past to “identify efficiencies in its operations” through its budget processes, added White. “Some of these efforts include reviewing all service contracts, including waste removal annually, moving towards energy-efficient lighting, moving towards increased paperless school operations,” he said.

Beyond the new food scraps program, new efforts in sustainability are also being contemplated by the BOE in the form of an energy incentive program at John Winthrop Middle School.

“A lot of it would address HVAC efficiencies, LED lighting throughout the building; there were a handful of other upgrades that would improve energy efficiency,” said White.

He added that these upgrades could be factored into the necessary work to be accomplished for a safe return for students and staff of the middle school after the current mold situation at the building has been eradicated.