Operations
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What can be recycled and composted in the Portland Public Schools' cafeterias?
Cafeterias generate the most trash of any area in our school buildings. Edible food waste represents an estimated 25% to 40% of the trash generated in district cafeterias. Add other recyclable and compostable materials currently used in the cafeterias, and the percentage of waste that can be diverted from the dumpster during breakfast and lunch increases to an estimated 80 %.
| Recycle | Trash | Compost | |
| Milk/OJ containers | Crouton, bagel, cracker, sandwich and cheese stick wrappers | Edible food waste | |
| Breakfast boxes | Must/Mayo/Ketchup/Cream cheese packets | Non-edible food waste (rinds/stems/cores/seeds, etc.) | |
| Cereal Containers | Styrofoam plates and bowls (if used) |
| |
| Apple Sauce Containers | Straws | ||
| Juice Boxes | Plastic Utensils | ||
| Smoothie containers | Plastic wrap (for bars, muffins, sandwiches, etc.) | ||
| Aluminum containers and foil | Chip Bags | ||
| Cooking Spray Cans | Butter containers | ||
| Pre-pack Containers | Plastic bags (for vegetables, fruit, etc.) | ||
| Food Cans | Salad dressing packets | ||
| Paperboard Trays | Juice pouches (unless your school recycles them through Terracycle) | ||
| Paper plates (if used) | |||
| Recyclable plastic containers (numbers 1-7) | |||
| Cardboard | |||
| Paper bags | |||
| Yoghurt containers |
What does a Trash Separation Station look like?
Each trash separation station consists of six collection units:
1) Five-gallon plastic bucket set on table for collecting leftover liquids, including milk, milk/cereal mix, juice and any other liquids.
2) Metal folding frame and clear bag for collecting recyclables, including milk and OJ containers, tinfoil, numbered plastic, paper, cardboard.
3) Trash barrel with hole cut in the lid for collecting redeemable cans/bottles.
4) Trash barrel, lined with black trash bag.
5) Green 10-gallon bucket (with liner) set on table for collecting food waste.
6) Blue bin set on table to hold stacked Paperboard trays.
To maintain “visual cues”, the same bucket/bag/bin/barrel is used every day for the same purpose. Each school makes signs to hang over each container showing samples of the items to illustrate “what goes where.”