Is training provided?

Yes, we provide comprehensive training for students and staff on how to properly sort compostable materials. Our team will ensure everyone is equipped with the knowledge to succeed. This training is crucial for maintaining a clean and efficient program.

From Cafeteria to Classroom

Q: What are the benefits?

Implementing a composting program can reduce waste disposal costs and promote sustainability. It also enhances students' understanding of environmental stewardship. Additionally, it provides a practical application of classroom lessons.

Empowering the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders

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Transform Waste into
Lessons and Sustainability

Group of children and an adult planting bulbs in garden soil outdoors.

Two teenage boys sorting food waste into a compost bin with a banana peel symbol, guided by signs on proper waste separation in a school cafeteria.

Illustration of a trash bin divided into three sections labeled 25% Trash in black, 28% Recyclable in blue, and 47% Compostable in green.

A Visible Commitment to Sustainability

Showcase your school's dedication to environmental stewardship. A composting program is a powerful, visible statement to parents and the community that you are actively building a greener future and instilling critical values in your students.

An Engaging Educational Tool

Composting offers a practical, hands-on way to teach concepts in biology, ecology, and environmental science, helping students connect their daily actions to a larger impact. It's the perfect anchor for a Green Team or a school-wide sustainability initiative.

A Smart Operational Decision

Reduce your school's waste by diverting heavy food scraps from the trash.

How It Works:

A Simple, Supported Process

Five green recycling bins with black lids lined up against a red brick wall on a concrete surface.

Plan & Strategize

We start with a consultation to design a custom program that fits your school's needs, from the number of bins to the collection schedule.

Children and an adult in a school cafeteria near compost and trash bins, with one boy composting food waste.

Launch & Educate

We provide sturdy Toter bins, and clear multilingual signage. You'll have a single point of contact from set up through implementation.

Six children and one adult in a safety vest standing in front of a Black Earth Compost truck with a green sign on the side.

Reliable Pickups

Our professional, friendly drivers handle the weekly collection of all food scraps, leaving you with a relined tote each pickup.

Conveyor belt pouring a large pile of dark mulch with surrounding piles and green trees in the background.

Close the Loop

We process the food scraps at our local facilities, turning them into nutrient-rich compost that can come right back to your school.

Full Circle Learning: The School Garden Program

Pair food scrap diversion with an installation of raised garden beds, allowing students to harvest vegetables and flowers from the very compost they helped create.

Images: Breshahan School Garden in Newburyport.

Four children wearing gardening gloves working with soil and black plastic pots near a red wheelbarrow outdoors.

Children and an adult harvesting leafy greens from a garden bed, holding brown paper bags.

We partner with the non-profit Backyard Growers to provide curriculum and support, helping your students use the very compost they created to build raised garden beds and grow their own food. This full-circle experience connects the dots between waste reduction, soil health, and nutrition in a way that resonates deeply with students of all ages.

Compost Facilities

Backyard Growers

Do a Fundraiser

Your school earns 10% on all deliveries on online orders! Contact us to get started.

Earn $ with School Referrals

Our School Referral Program allows your school or PTO to earn credit towards your bill, a check, soil, or a raised bed for your school!

Discounts on Compost Products

Schools with collection service receive discounts on, compost, soil, and raised beds.

Shop Compost Products

Join our growing network of over 300 schools

Beverly Public Schools seal featuring a classic sailing ship inside an orange circular border with the text 'Beverly Public Schools.'

Watertown Public Schools seal with a black letter W on a red shield, encircled by text stating Excellence, Equity, Community.

Educational Material

Five colorful waste sorting signs labeled Compost, Food Share, Recycle, Liquids, and Trash, each with images and bilingual instructions for proper disposal.

Waste Station Signage

Facilitate Zero Waste station sorting with clear signage. Available in two sizes 8.5" x 11" or 24" x 36" to download and print.

24" x 36"8.5" x 11"

Compost Curriculum

Nonprofit Let's Go Compost offers free curriculum for K-8th grade. For in-person education we recommend Change is Simple.

Let's Go Compost

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about our school composting programs and how they work.

What is composting?

Composting is the process of recycling organic waste, such as food scraps, into nutrient-rich soil. It reduces landfill waste and supports a healthier environment. Schools can use composting as a hands-on learning tool.

Where do the food scraps go?

We turn the food scraps into compost at one of our 4 compost facilities. We offer facility tours to school groups. Composting is a better use of food scraps than digestion or sewer treatment plants.

What are the benefits?

Implementing a composting program reduces waste disposal costs and promotes sustainability. It also enhances students' understanding of environmental stewardship. Additionally, it provides a practical application of classroom lessons.

How can we start?

To initiate a composting program, request a free consultation with our team. We will help you design a custom plan tailored to your school's needs. Together, we can make a significant impact.

Still have questions?

Reach out to us for more information.