Composting Reduces Food Waste in Pittsford Schools

Pittsford Central School District has launched a pilot composting program in school cafeterias as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible waste management.

This initiative is supported through a combination of District funds and a $5,000 matching grant from Monroe County aimed at expanding food waste diversion efforts. The composting pilot has been a passion project of the Pittsford Schools’ Sustainability Committee, which continues to explore meaningful ways to reduce environmental impact and model sustainable practices for students.

Rather than piloting composting at a single site, PCSD chose to implement the program in cafeterias districtwide (with the exception of Barker Road Middle School while being remodeled) to maximize the impact of the grant while keeping the process manageable for staff. Pittsford Schools is partnering with local company Impact Earth to support the rollout. Kitchen staff will separate compostable food and organic waste from regular trash using buckets and toters provided by Impact Earth.

Diverting food waste from landfills offers important environmental benefits, including improving soil health and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “This pilot represents a meaningful step forward in strengthening the district’s sustainability practices and reinforcing environmental stewardship as a shared community value,” said Superintendent Shana Cutaia.

Pittsford Schools will continue to share updates as the pilot progresses and will evaluate potential next steps at the conclusion of the trial period.