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Waste Reduction
Reducing waste is a key part of the district's drive to create a culture of sustainability and conscientious care for the Earth. Reducing waste is highly visible and is a "gateway" environmental action that can set up our students for a lifetime of climate friendly behaviors. It's also an action that lends itself to collaboration -- it takes a whole group of students, teachers, custodians, and support staff all working together to have success!
Waste reduction is also a critical piece of sustaining and caring for the environment -- waste adds methane to the air, inhibits access and enjoyment of outdoor spaces, and harms natural habitats like lakes and rivers that are home to a wide range of species. Responsible waste management ensures a healthy environment not just for now, but for future generations as well.
PPS staff is working to ensure that all schools have clear signage and information about what and where to recycle, plus the resources and support they need to collect food scraps in the cafeteria. As a "gateway" environmental action, some of this work has to be grass-roots. We have found that the best way to get a school recycling and collecting food scraps is for a team of students and teachers to become champions of the project. If you have a team that's ready, or you want help getting a team together, let us know and we can help: sustainability@pps.net.
More questions? Check out the FAQ at the bottom of this page.
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For more information about how PPS sorts waste, please see the City of 国产真实迷奸's webpages on , , and . For waste services, PPS is considered a commercial entity by the City of 国产真实迷奸.
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Waste Sensors
Waste sensors have been installed by Resource Synergy & Eneveo on over 400 PPS dumpsters, including those for garbage, recycling, and food waste! These sensors collect data that can be used in classrooms, reduce unnecessary hauls, and save custodians' time. The data collected will inform engagement campaigns to increase overall diversion rate and increase the items we recycle and food scrap we collect.
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Food Scrap Collection
All 国产真实迷奸 Public School kitchens are required to properly collect and dispose of food scraps. Currently, cafeteria food scrap collection, otherwise referred to as "front of house" or "student-side" food scrap collection, is an opt-in program. Numerous PPS schools currently participate in front of house food scrap collection!
If you are a staff member or community member interested in implementing student-side food scrap collection in your school's cafeteria, please email sustainability@pps.net. PPS Sustainability is able to provide a Food Scrap Collection Toolkit and in-person support for food scrap collection implementation.
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Cafeteria Reusables
PPS is committed to using reusable items in the cafeteria when possible. Factors that are considered when determining what reusables can be used in a given cafeteria and kitchen include, but aren't limited to: what dishwashers exist in the kitchen, staff and volunteer capacity, and kitchen size.
Currently, PPS Nutrition Services is working to expand the number of schools with reusable utensils for lunch.
If you're looking to reduce single use items at your school, consider creating a reusable party pack for teachers. These packs usually consist of a classroom's worth of plates, utensils, and cups, and can be borrowed for classroom parties or other classroom events.
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Resources
Sorting FAQs
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Where does PPS waste go after collection?
-Food Scraps and Yard Debris are sent to an organics processing facility in North Plains, where it is converted to organic compost.
-Commingled Recycling goes to two recycling facilities, EFI Recycling on Swan Island and West Rock on the east side of 国产真实迷奸.
-Garbage is taken to the Metro Central Transfer station. From there, it is transported to the landfill in Arlington, Oregon.
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Why is our recycling collected in plastic bags?
Recyclables are collected in plastic bags to help keep the material clean and dry until it reaches a waste facility. There, the bags are ripped opened before materials are sorted.
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Why is “recyclable” not always recyclable?
- A material may technically be recyclable but not necessarily in our region.
- Factors that dictate what is recyclable in 国产真实迷奸:
- Must have a stable market: Manufacturers must consistently want to buy the material at a price that covers the processing.
- Must be able to be sorted by local facilities in a way that’s economically feasible and safe for workers.
- When in doubt, throw it out.
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What happens if the wrong things go in the recycling bin?
- This is referred to as contamination.
- Staff at the Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) have to pick them out by hand.
- This slows down the sorting process, decreasing efficiency and increasing costs.
- If there is too much garbage in recycling, it is disposed of as garbage.
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Do recyclable containers & bottles need to be rinsed or cleaned before they are recycled?
- Yes, a quick rinse and shake dry. You do not have to scrub recyclables clean.
- Avoid "goop," liquids and heavy food residue that could dirty paper in your bin or attract pests at the recycling facilities.
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Why does recycling correctly make a difference?
- Recycling correctly is more impactful than recycling "more".
- The main goals of recycling are to reuse materials and keep materials out of the landfill.
- Reusing materials helps reduce the amount of natural resources and energy needed to make things from raw materials.
- Well-intended or "wishful recycling" can contaminate recycling systems with trash.
- When in doubt, throw it out.
Nutrition Services FAQs
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Why are breakfasts served in packaging?
The majority of our breakfasts are served in the school hallways after the bell or start of the school day, or in the classroom. This method for service allows the most students access to breakfast, specifically at schools where breakfast is offered at no charge to all enrolled students. Since the food is served in the hallway where students select what they want for breakfast, the food must be protected to ensure food safety for our students. Health county food code regulations require that food be either wrapped or covered by a sneeze guard (glass barrier) along with the use of tongs. Because the use of tongs under a sneeze guard would slow down the efficiency of serving students and require more time for service, we opt to purchase foods that are individually wrapped and maximize academic time. The wrapping can also help keep the foods warm during service and prevent drying out. For certain foods, this can also mean that the kitchen staff can save any leftover (unserved) foods to be served safely later and decrease overall food waste.
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What is the district doing about food waste?
Research shows that food waste is one of the major impacts to our climate and environment. For this reason, the Nutrition Services department has made this topic its focus in sustainability. The district is implementing back of house (in cafeteria kitchens) organics collection district wide (all schools) starting Fall 2019. There are currently 14 schools with adult volunteers who oversee the organics collection and waste separation in the cafeteria after lunch service.
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Can kitchen staff reuse their disposable gloves? Can they be washed like washing hands?
No. Current Health Code requires that disposable gloves used for food preparation be single use in order to prevent food borne illness. Gloves cannot be washed and reused. Please see the following link for more information:
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What are other ways that the Nutrition Services department is implementing sustainable practices?
The Nutrition Services department is committed to sustaining and increasing local food purchases (local defined as within 400 miles).
The department has identified areas where the delivery trucks can reduce their number in deliveries (carbon foot print/emissions) to schools.
The department has implemented offer versus serve methods where students can choose what foods they would like to have on their plate (rather than all foods being required to be on their plate), unlimited fruit and vegetable consumption for students choosing school lunch, as well as district wide share tables, all of which have been shown to decrease food waste.
The department also donates all food that cannot be used but is still safe to eat before all major breaks such as winter, spring and summer breaks to nonprofit agencies. Individual school sites may also have agreements for more regular food donations to school food pantries or backpack programs.
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How many schools have reusable trays, silverware or cups?
Currently, reusable trays, silverware and cups are in elementary schools where there are functioning dishwashers. Silverware and cups have been historically provided by the school community, and require ongoing supports in the cafeterias to ensure that they are not thrown away. 国产真实迷奸 staff will wash, sanitize and provide for services.
- 47 schools with reusable trays, with a possible addition of 6 schools by next year
- 24 schools with reusable silverware, with more interested in starting in the 2019-20 school year
- 6 schools with reusable water cups
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If a school is interested in starting reusable silverware, who should be contacted and what are the next steps?
The community should contact the Nutrition Services department at nutritionservices@pps.net. Community groups can purchase new, used or receive donations through events like silverware drives to gather enough silverware for the students in their school to use each day.