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The R.I. School Recycling Project (RISRP) will receive $750,000 in grants to help every elementary school in Rhode Island launch student-led food waste recycling programs.

By diverting hundreds of tons of cafeteria food waste from the Johnston facility to composting and other environmentally friendly uses, the initiative is expected to extend the life of the state’s only landfill. The project is particularly focused on diverting edible, healthy good food from the waste stream to food-insecure students and their families.

“Thousands of elementary school students will be able to play crucial roles extending the life of the Central Landfill and significantly reducing their schools’ carbon footprint. And the best part? It’s being done by students with help from great custodians, cafeteria staff and teachers,” said RISRP Co-Director Jim Corwin.

According to RISRP Organizing Director Warren Heyman, the Get Food Smart program is already in 63 schools and 17 districts, and has reduced the cafeteria waste that was going to the landfill by 78 percent.

“This is a very simple and inexpensive way to divert healthy, edible food to food insecure students and at the same time divert the remaining food waste to be composted.  This lengthens the life of the landfill and reduces the amount of methane going into our atmosphere. Lastly, it reduces student anxiety about a warming planet and provides them leadership opportunities in their schools,” said Heyman.

11th Hour Racing, a Newport-based organization that fosters connections for healthy sea, land, and people by investing in innovative, sustainable solutions for the health of the ocean and our communities, is awarding $250,000. This new funding builds on $193,000 in previous grants awarded to the Rhode Island School Recycling Project since 2023.

“This project gives Rhode Island students a hands-on role in tackling one of our state’s biggest environmental challenges — food waste. By learning how to collect, measure, and redirect cafeteria scraps from the landfill, students are seeing firsthand how their actions can make a difference,” said Michelle Carnavale, president, 11th Hour Racing. “We’re proud to help Rhode Island schools turn everyday habits into lasting environmental change – and to help build a model that can grow to reach every school in the state.”

RISRP is getting $500,000 from the Rhode Island Foundation. The initiative aligns with the Foundation’s new “Climate Action and Sustainability” Community Priority. Reducing the amount of food waste that would decay over time at the landfill will cut the amount of greenhouse gases released into the air.

“Food waste decomposing in landfills releases methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. In contrast, composting produces oxygen, and the resulting compost enriches soil, improves water retention, and reduces the need for energy-intensive synthetic fertilizers,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “Let's be the first state in the nation to have all their elementary schools composting food waste.

LaPerche Elementary School in Smithfield already participates in the RISRP’s Get Food Smart program. As part of the recycling process, students drop food waste, recyclable material such as plastic bottles, untouched fresh food like apples and garbage in separate bins as they leave the cafeteria lunch tables.

“At LaPerche, students care deeply about protecting our planet and are always finding new ways to grow the Cafeteria Ranger program. They’ve added reusable silverware, compost bins in the classrooms, and even a bucket of warm water to rinse yogurt containers before recycling. When students spread the rich soil made from the compost, they see how their small actions make a big difference for our world,” said Principal Julie Dorsey, who also serves as president of RISRP’s Board of Directors.

A portion of the Foundation’s grant came from donors who wish to remain anonymous.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Through civic leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, together with neighbors and partners, the Foundation is helping to create progress that lasts.