SILVERTON

Schools learn how reducing waste can impact more than garbage bill

Bill Poehler
Statesman Journal

SILVERTON – Over 32,000 used milk cartons were thrown away each year at Silverton Middle School, the equivalent of 25 cubic yards of trash.

At Scotts Mills School, about 477 gallons of milk were poured down the drain each year.

By replacing milk cartons with milk dispensers and washable cups, the schools in the Silverton School District produce a fraction of the trash they once did. 

With a $76,000 grant, Marion County will roll out similar waste reduction programs at schools throughout the county over the next two years. 

“Being able to install these at the Silver Falls School District, it’s really giving us the opportunity to study the benefits of it,” Marion County waste reduction coordinator Bailey Payne said.

“Because of the grant we’re receiving, it’s going to make the roll out a lot easier because we have some success stories.”

Students pour their own drinks from milk dispensers rather than milk cartons at Silverton Middle School on Monday, Jan. 15, 2019. Marion County was awarded a $76,000 grant to reduce food waste in schools.

'As far as waste, garbage can waste, it’s almost none'

Over the next two years, Marion County will focus on bringing items like milk dispensers and reusable goods like cups, plates and utensils to rural and low-income schools.

Payne said the grant from the Department of Environmental Quality will pay for about 15 schools to be outfitted with milk dispensers and reusable plates and utensils; Marion County will pay from its own budget to outfit about 20 total schools.

In the schools where the program is already in place, one immediate impact is students drink more milk.

“They say it tastes better,” said Suanne Earle, Silver Falls School District food service director. “It’s got a little thicker consistency. It’s a little more like a milkshake. As far as nutritional value, it’s all exactly the same.

“As far as waste, garbage can waste, it’s almost none. It’s gone. And then just your savings on your milk waste, too. You’re not dumping milk into the sewer systems and stuff. It’s just dollar waste, also.”

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Earle said schools would save an estimated $500 per month by using plastic plates and utensils compared with using disposable plates.

Butte Creek School, located near Marquam, approached Earle about ways it could reduce waste in an effort to earn “Green” certification.

Milk cartons are replaced by cups used for milk dispensers at Silverton Middle School on Monday, Jan. 15, 2019. Marion County was awarded a $76,000 grant to reduce food waste in schools. The Silver Falls School District is the first to participate.

As part of a similar waste reduction program with Clackamas County –  where Butte Creek is located – Earle signed up and saw the benefits.

“That was really the goal — to save on milk waste, but really just getting rid of that garbage,” Earle said.

When Marion County wanted to start a pilot program prior to the 2018-2019 school year, she was quick to volunteer Silverton Middle School and Scotts Mills, which both already used reusable food trays.

Since children are allowed to pour their own milk rather than take an 8-ounce milk carton, they’re more likely to take only what they want and not overserve themselves, Earle said.

Sixth grade student Hunter Jenson, 12, drinks the rest of her milk before placing her cup in a bin at Silverton Middle School on Monday, Jan. 15, 2019. The Silver Falls School District is the first to participate in a waste reduction program that knocks out milk cartons.

Earle said younger students are more careful with milk in cups and don't spill any more than they did when using milk cartons.

And single-use items like plastic utensils and paper plates cost money and create unnecessary waste and added expense compared with reusable trays.

There are some schools more likely to benefit from such a program, such as ones that serve students breakfast and lunch and ones that serve children meals in a cafeteria instead of in classrooms.

As part of the program, Marion County will provide educational materials so students know what they’re drinking is helping the environment.

Payne said despite not having educational materials at Silverton Middle School, a survey of students showed many cited the positive environmental impacts as something they appreciated about the change.

“Hopefully if we can show success here, other school districts will do it,” Payne said.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com or Twitter.com/bpoehler