SEBAGO — During Maine Food Waste Awareness week (Sept. 28), Sebago Elementary hosted a food waste awareness event geared toward educating students. The special guest speaker was researcher Susanne Lee from the University of Maine Mitchell Center for Sustainable Solutions.

Other guests included: Jeanne Christie, District Representative of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree; Mark King of the Department of Environmental Protection; and Michelle Bisbee of the Department of Education & Nutrition.

The proclamation was read by Ted Bridge-Koenigsberg, SES retired fourth grade teacher and food waste advocate.

As part of the state’s initiative to end food waste in Maine, Sebago Elementary School participated in a food waste study led by the University of Maine Mitchell Center for Sustainable Solutions in February 2023. Both food and milk waste were collected and weighed at the end of each lunch period for seven weeks. Fourth grade students documented the weight daily. During the study, the cafeteria team implemented several different strategies to address this major economic and environmental challenge. The goal of the study was to reduce cafeteria food waste by 40%.

Over the course of the study, a steady decline of daily food waste was observed. During the two base weeks prior to any implementations, student waste averaged .32 pounds per day. After introducing several different methods of waste reduction, the average food waste per student per day reduced to .28 pounds. The post intervention food waste audit showed a reduction of overall fruit and vegetable waste of 64%!

Through efforts to reduce wasted food, the four pilot schools showed the potential for improving health and feeding, saving money and other valuable resources, and fighting climate change. After sharing study results and other key insights with Governor Mills, it was agreed to proclaim Maine Food Waste Awareness Week, Sept. 25-29, 2023, particularly to highlight and support the Maine schools’ efforts to reduce food waste!