The Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) has developed the School Cafeteria Discards Assessment Project (SCrAP) to quantify both food waste and related wastes (eg. recyclables, to landfill) generated in cafeterias at K-12 schools nationally.
Roughly 40% of food produced in America is thrown away which equates to nearly $165 billion worth of food each year.
SCrAP aims to gather information regarding the quantity of waste generated in school cafeterias and gain an understanding of how this waste is managed both at the school and after it is hauled away.
Additionally, SCrAP could provide benefits to schools such as:
- Educating students/school staff regarding more sustainable waste management strategies,
- Reducing unnecessary food waste,
- Reducing food costs to schools, and
- Developing ways to better manage institutional food waste.