Nonprofit gets grants to help EP elementary schools recycle cafeteria food waste

Student-led programs expected to reduce municipal landfill fees, provide food for needy families, create compost for school gardens

East Providence, RI – Cafeteria food recycling programs could be coming to East Providence’s elementary schools thanks to $750,000 in grants to the R.I. School Recycling Project (RISRP). The nonprofit will use the money to help every elementary school in Rhode Island launch student-led food waste recycling programs.

“Elementary school students will be able to play crucial roles extending the life of the Central Landfill and significantly reducing their schools’ carbon footprint. And the best part? It will be done by students with help from great custodians, cafeteria staff and teachers,” said RISRP Co-Director Jim Corwin.

The initiative is expected to extend the life of the state’s only landfill by diverting hundreds of tons of cafeteria food waste from the Johnston facility to composting and other environmentally friendly uses. The project is particularly focused on diverting edible, healthy good food from the waste stream to food insecure students and their families.

“This is a very simple and inexpensive way to divert healthy, edible food to food insecure students and at the same time divert the remaining food waste to be composted. This lengthens the life of the landfill and reduces the amount of methane going into our atmosphere. Lastly, it reduces student anxiety about a warming planet and provides them leadership opportunities in their schools,” said RISRP’s Organizing Director Warren Heyman.

The funding comes from 11th Hour Racing, a Newport-based organization that awarded $250,000; and the Rhode Island Foundation, which contributed $500,000.

“This project gives Rhode Island students a hands-on role in tackling one of our state’s biggest environmental challenges — food waste. By learning how to collect, measure, and redirect cafeteria scraps from the landfill, students are seeing firsthand how their actions can make a difference,” said Michelle Carnavale, president, 11th Hour Racing. “We’re proud to help Rhode Island schools turn everyday habits into lasting environmental change – and to help build a model that can grow to reach every school in the state.”

“Food waste decomposing in landfills releases methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. In contrast, composting produces oxygen, and the resulting compost enriches soil, improves water retention, and reduces the need for energy-intensive synthetic fertilizers,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “Let's be the first state in the nation to have all their elementary schools composting food waste.”

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Through civic leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, together with neighbors and partners, the Foundation is helping to create progress that lasts. For more information, visit www.rifoundation.org.