This document discusses food waste collection and composting programs at various public schools and events in Franklin County, Massachusetts. It provides details on the programs at the Franklin County Fair, Conway Festival of the Hills, and several elementary and regional schools. The schools have seen significant waste diversion rates ranging from 53% to 71.5% by collecting food scraps, soiled paper, and recyclables separately from trash. Compost collection has reduced waste disposal costs for the schools by hundreds to thousands of dollars per year. Volunteers and custodians play important roles in operating the collection systems.
4. Franklin County Fair 24,000 attendees, 4 days in Sept. 2007: 40 recycle bins, 40 bags recycling, 7 volunteers 2008: 55 recycle bins, 1 ton recycling, GF Hockey Team 2009: 95 recycle bins, 12 compost stations,100 volunteers! 12 cubic yards cans and bottles 8 cubic yards food and paper waste (1800 lbs.) Greenfield DPW provides ten 95 gal. toters for storage of recyclables 2009: Vols. picked up food waste at participating vendors Cardboard collected by fair trash staff: 1.6 tons, 16 c.y. Waste oil picked up by biodiesel vendor 2009: 38% diversion rate Agricultural wastes sent to Shelburne farm
58. School Composting via Bear Path Farm, Whately, MA Whately Elementary only. Bear Path Farm also accepts food waste at Whately transfer station, ? the first municipal organics collection in the state? 2009: school + transfer station composted 12 tons of food waste.
59. Whately Elementary SchoolWhately, MA 140 Students, Pre-K to 6th grade Food and paper waste is collected in tray return. 68 gallon organics toter picked up every week.
60. School Composting via Clear View Composting, Orange Swift River Elementary only. More schools to be added soon! Clear View Composting also accepts food waste at New Salem transfer station.
61. Swift River Elementary SchoolNew Salem/ Wendell, MA 140 Students, Pre-K - 6th grade Custodian Larry Ramsdell: “No more smelly dumpsters. We reduced the cost of trash bags by 50%.”