Waste diversion and reduction

Parkway’s attempts at diverting landfill waste remain futile. Between 2018 and 2019, the trash produced each month stood consistently above 130 tons. While Parkway  managed to divert around 50% of all waste from the landfill, little progress has been made recently in moving that percentage towards the 70% goal. When it comes to diverting landfill waste, a practice largely dependent on how each school responds, Parkway falls short.

Over the last school year, West High led in the trash and composting at 158,976 pounds. North High, however, only produced 52,992 pounds of trash and composting last year. There is over a 100,000-pound difference in these two schools’ waste and composting even though there is only a 142 person difference in the two schools’ student populations.

Despite a similar staff and student body size, these two schools have vastly different consumption levels. Therefore, the issue of landfill waste diversion is dependent on how each school implements trash, recycling and composting practices.

The issue of landfill diversion and waste reduction has become more challenging in recent years. COVID-19 has led to supply and staff shortages that have impacted every level of the waste reduction process. For example, Chartwells, which in past years had provided schools with compostable trays, has struggled to provide these trays due to supply shortages, compostable cutlery has been replaced with wrapped single-use plastic cutlery and plans at switching from paper towel dispensers to energy-efficient hand dryers were halted during the beginning of COVID-19.

Parkway has attempted to counteract the pressures COVID-19 created on a waste diversion by creating an additional 116 new waste sorting stations, but the challenges faced in landfill diversion and waste reduction have led to little change. A return to compostable cutlery and a switch to reusable trays would help reduce this waste. Though it may cost more money to get the dishwashing supplies and staff necessary to make this change, it would benefit schools in the long run by reducing the amount of waste produced.

It is the responsibility of each school and individuals within schools to work on decreasing their waste production. The accumulation of waste isn’t something that the district can control, but it is something that we as individuals can work to reduce. Schools need to promote recycling and composting, encourage students to bring reusable containers during lunch, and, through the Sustainability Department’s help, perform waste audits to create an action plan towards reducing waste consumption.