Washington Recycles! 

In 2014, California passed Assembly Bill 1826 requiring schools to divert food waste from landfills to organic diversion facilities where food waste can be repurposed into valuable compost. This year Washington and 5 other schools in SCUSD are piloting a food recycling program with our waste hauler, Republic Services.

Why organics recycling?

In the United States, nearly 40 percent of edible food goes unconsumed every year. Food waste is the single largest component of material in landfills, where it decomposes and produces methane. In response, California passed Assembly Bill 1826 in 2014, requiring schools to divert food waste from landfills to organic diversion facilities where food waste can be repurposed into valuable compost.

Where does the food waste go?

Our waste hauler, Republic Services, transports the food waste to an organic diversion facility in San Jose, where it is composted for schools, businesses, and cities to purchase and use.

How will the food waste be collected?

Students in the cafeteria and Nutrition Services staff in the kitchen will sort out food waste into a color coded bin. This bin will then be emptied into a rolling cart that will be collected by our waste hauler on designed days of the week.

Please spread the word!