Tackling School Food Waste

Our Tackling School Food Waste pages will help you audit your waste from lunchtimes at school and help you with actions that will reduce waste. Why not hold a Zero Waste Lunch Day or week in school to help draw attention to school waste at lunchtime?  

If you have a school kitchen or canteen where food is prepared you could consider starting a food waste composting system like a Ridan or Big Hanna. See our resources about school food waste composting. 

All schools in England are legally required to separate their food waste as of March 2025. Additionally, the Department of Education’s has given non-statutory guidance that by 2025, all education settings in England will have put in place a climate action plan. This plan aims to increase your students and staff’s confidence in climate education, prioritise sustainability, reduce operating costs and more. Click here for more information about the Climate Action Plan. Reducing your food waste is a fantastic action to add to your climate action plan!  

3 children enjoying their packed lunches

What’s next?

Here is a suggested Plan of Action for getting people involved in reducing Food Waste through a Waste Free Lunch campaign at your school. 

  1. Contact our waste education team to help you audit your school waste. Click here to contact us.  
  2. Find out who your sustainability lead is, read your climate action plan and find out what recycling already happens at the school. E.g. does your school canteen or kitchen recycle their food waste? 
  3. Study our resources about food waste. 
  4. Do an Assembly about Food Waste and Packaging. 
  5. Get your young people involved in an Audit of Food Waste and Packaging. (Reach out to our Waste Educators if you need help!) 
  6. Plan some zero waste lunches and amend your climate action plan.  
  7. Put all your ideas in a newsletter or send a letter home to parents. 
  8. Have a Community Waste Free Lunch after-school event. Our waste educators can help with this too! 
  9. Audit the waste again – make it a competition between classes. 
  10. Celebrate any success!  

More Resources

Mouldy and out-of-date food

Wonky veg

Leftovers

Peelings and scraps

Compost

Compost Curriculum

Composting in schools

Zero Waste Lunches

Some Useful Videos:

External Resources:

Zero Waste Scotland Resources

YPTE Resources

Twinkl Resources

Be a Food Waste Warrior

Scout Recipe Book

Zone © 2026 Recycle Devon