The Cost and Environmental Benefits of Using Reusable Foodware in Schools (2014)

A case study of two Minnetonka, Minnesota middle schools, that made the switch from disposable to reusable food ware and improved their cafeteria waste sorting stations. The purpose of the project was to address the most significant source of non-recyclable, non compostable waste from the school cafeterias: disposable plastic flatware and Styrofoam bowls. The schools used the grant funds from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) Environmental Assistance Grant Program to purchase washable durable utensils and bowls, custom-made waste sorting stations, and a few needed racks and carts to store, move, and wash the reusable food ware. The project educated over 2,000 students, staff, and visitors about the benefits of eliminating the disposables and how to properly sort everything from the trays after lunch.

This case study shows that a return to reusable utensils in schools can be good for the bottom line—in the first year, the schools saved approximately $3,000 combined by buying the reusable utensils and bowls and the annual per student costs for food-ware dropped from $6.89 to $4.83. The case study also shows that common concerns about reusables – that on-site water and electricity use will undercut environmental benefits – are unfounded.