Substantial food waste is generated from the roughly seven billion meals that are served each year to the nation’s 45.4 million children enrolled in K–12 public schools. Measures to reduce food waste in schools can provide environmental benefits, increase meal consumption, lead to substantial cost savings, and help combat food insecurity. The ELI/NRDC Model State Law on Reducing Food Waste in K–12 Public Schools—which can be adapted to the contexts of individual states—provides a range of measures to advance food waste reduction in K–12 Public Schools. This Background Memorandum provides key background information—including on public education governance in the United States—as well as section-by-section commentaries that offer analysis and examples for each of the Model's provisions. For a deeper dive, check out this blog.
Check out the accompanying resources: (1) Model State Law, (2) Model Resolution, and (3) Slide Presentation.
This resource is part of a broader effort by ELI’s Center for State and Local Governance to develop adaptable model governance tools that make it easier for state and local governments in the United States to advance climate, environmental, and waste reduction solutions. You can find the full suite of model governance tools here.