Portsmouth schools divert about 46,440 pounds of food waste through districtwide composting program

Eva Tuohy, a consultant with Waste Not Consulting, told the Portsmouth School Committee on July 1 that a districtwide composting and recycling program operating in the four public schools diverted 46,440 pounds of food scraps and compostable serviceware during the 2024–25 school year.

Tuohy presented the program’s objectives, waste-audit results and next steps, and said the districtwide system uses a uniform set of bins and signage and a commercial hauler, Black Earth Compost, to collect compostable material. “We were able to divert, 46,000 pounds 46,440 pounds of, food scraps and compostable service ware items,” Tuohy said.

The program matters to the district and town because Rhode Island landfills face long‑term capacity limits and schools can reduce local landfill waste. Tuohy noted the district’s elementary schools consistently achieved high diversion rates: “Melville and Hathaway elementary schools consistently reach an 85% diversion rate every single day, which is incredibly high and really impressive.” The program includes student and staff training, on‑site assistance at lunchroom waste stations and periodic waste audits.

Program results and differences among schools - Black Earth Compost reported the districtwide pickup totals as: Portsmouth Middle School ~16,000 pounds; Melville Elementary ~14,000 pounds; Portsmouth High School ~8,000 pounds; Hathaway Elementary just over 7,000 pounds. Tuohy said kitchen/back‑of‑house waste from Chartwells, the district’s food service manager, is also composted. - Elementary schools use compostable trays (the high school uses reusable trays because it has a dishwasher), and elementary students were estimated to number about 2,050 who received program education (Tuohy said this figure was an estimate). - Hathaway implemented a “share cart” for unopened purchased food so edible food is reused rather than composted, and Tuohy recommended expanding that practice where appropriate. - Portsmouth Middle School initially launched the program in October with mixed results; one waste audit showed only 41% of waste went to the landfill on the audited day. Tuohy said compliance at the middle school fell back to mostly grades 5 and 6 by year’s end and recommended a relaunch next year with more student leadership, centralized stations and clearer bin placement. - At Portsmouth High School, early on‑site monitoring produced strong compliance, but participation dropped when adult monitoring was not present. Tuohy proposed making the program student‑led, adding club roles (a “waste champion,” communications lead), offering community service hours for participants, and building the program into underclassmen leadership so it survives senior turnover.

Recommendations and next steps Tuohy recommended minor signage changes, better bin design at the high school (larger openings and covered compost bins so nonparticipants do not contaminate the stream), expansion of composting to kindergarten and pre‑K where feasible, and more cross‑school mentoring (for example, older students helping younger students at lunch stations). She said the district will continue periodic waste audits and on‑site check‑ins.

Committee members and staff raised coordination and funding questions. School Committee member Miss Skehan asked whether the program had been coordinated with the town’s single‑hauler recycling outreach and suggested students could become community educators. Tuohy said she had not yet coordinated directly with the town but would “do a little digging” and explore joint education options. Skehan also read a bill number from memory, saying a proposed state measure (House 5195) would establish a compost fund for municipalities; Tuohy said she would monitor the bill’s progress and that, if passed and made available to schools, it could provide financial incentives.

Superintendent Doctor Kenworthy and committee members thanked Tuohy and said the district intends to continue the program next year with Waste Not Consulting in a gradual‑release model, with district staff assuming more of the day‑to‑day responsibilities over time.

The presentation closed with committee agreement to keep working on student leadership, town coordination and small operational changes before the 2025–26 school year.