Winthrop Public Schools, in conjunction with the Town of Winthrop Department of Public Works and RecyclingWorks MA, has launched an innovative district-wide wasted food diversion pilot program across all four community schools—William P. Gorman/Fort Banks Elementary, Arthur T. Cummings Elementary, Winthrop Middle, and Winthrop Senior High School. According to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Town’s former Zero Waste Committee, food scraps account for 23% statewide and over 21% of local solid waste streams, making organic matter the single largest component sent to regional landfills and incinerators. By transforming lively school cafeterias into functional environmental labs, this joint municipal initiative directly mitigates escalating trash removal expenditures and lowers the town’s carbon footprint by diverting organic material away from oxygen-depleted landfills—where it would otherwise decompose and release potent methane greenhouse gas—toward commercial composting.
From Cafeteria Trays to Nutrient-Rich Soil
The heart of the program relies on simple, structured changes during lunchtime. Stations have been set up in school cafeterias featuring custom, color-coded collection bins equipped with multilingual signage. Students are guided through a quick post-meal sorting sequence:
• Liquid Buckets: Leftover milk, juice, and water are poured down dedicated collection drains to reduce bin weight (leakage is currently being addressed at The A.T. Cummings School).
• Compost Totes: Students toss all leftover food items—including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bones, and food-soiled paper napkins—directly into specialized green bins managed by Black Earth Compost.
• Trash Bins: Only true waste, such as plastic chip bags, single-use utensils, and plastic wrapping, is thrown into standard garbage cans.
Early Success: First Two Months’ Metrics
The initial rollout yielded highly encouraging results, successfully diverting six tons (12,000 lbs.) of organic material from the waste stream across the district during its first two months:
Winthrop Middle & Senior High School 1,260.00 lbs.
Arthur T. Cummings Elementary School 5,400.00 lbs.
William P. Gorman / Fort Banks Elementary School 4,680.00 lbs.
Total District Diversion 12,000.00 lbs. (6 Tons)
Voices from the Frontlines
The programmatic shift relies heavily on leadership at individual school campuses. The district’s principals and school committee members shared their observations from the first weeks of sorting.
“We are excited to launch our cafeteria composting program at the William P. Gorman Fort Banks Elementary School, giving students a firsthand opportunity to learn how small, everyday actions can make a positive difference for our environment. By composting food waste during lunchtime at GFB, we are helping reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills while building environmental awareness and encouraging sustainable habits at an early age.” Mrs. Kristen Reynolds, M.Ed., Principal, William P. Gorman Fort Banks Elementary School
“At the Arthur T. Cummings Elementary School, we are committed to teaching our students the importance of protecting the environment through meaningful, everyday actions. Our students have fully embraced our new composting initiative, actively sorting food waste from trash using our designated composting barrels. We are proud of their participation and enthusiasm as they learn that slight changes can make a big difference. We are investing in a more sustainable future by helping our students develop lifelong habits that benefit our school, our community, and our planet.” Andrea O’Leary, M.Ed., C.A.G.S, Principal, Arthur T. Cummings Elementary School
“The students at WHS are excited to be a part of this great program. They are already developing new habits in the cafeteria and composting is gaining momentum in our school. “Matthew Crombie, M.Ed., Principal Winthrop Senior High School
“The diversion of six tons of solid waste in the first two months of school is incredible. I am grateful for the collaboration between the Department of Public Works and Winthrop Public Schools and am impressed by the work of the staff and students in the implementation of this program. I am looking forward to future updates, and how this will decrease the overall waste expenses in our community, while positively impacting the environment through composting.” Layne Petrie, Winthrop School Committee Chair
“I think this is a great program; it will help reduce our waste cost, save landfill space, and create energy through co-digestion and/or the benefits of compost. It also makes our students aware of the benefits of recycling by doing their part.” Gus Martucci, Winthrop School Committee Member
Closing the Loop: How Residents Can Participate at Home
To maximize the environmental impact, town leaders urge families to mirror cafeteria efforts at home by subscribing to Black Earth Compost via the official Town website portal:
• How to Sign Up: Visit the Black Earth Compost Winthrop Portal to set up a residential service account.
• Starter Kits & Collection: Households receive a 13-gallon locking curbside bin (or 4-gallon apartment bin) with compostable liners. Bins must be curbside by 6:00 AM on scheduled pickup days.
• Community Perk: Enrolled residents receive a voucher every spring for one cubic foot of finished, nutrient-rich compost.
By connecting the habits formed in the classroom with practices at home, the Winthrop community has a unique opportunity to build simple steps toward change. Embracing this district-wide initiative allows every household to play a direct role in creating a cleaner, more sustainable, and economically resilient future for the town.