Food waste can be unavoidable at times, but when excessive amounts of waste are being produced on a regular basis, it becomes a problem.
The School Waste Guide 2025 estimates that the UK wastes around 9.5 million tonnes of food each year, and the education sector makes a significant contribution to this figure – equalling around £250,000 worth of food waste per year.
Broken down further, it’s estimated that primary schools in England generate 55,408 tonnes of food waste annually, while secondary schools contribute 24,974 tonnes – totalling a shocking 80,382 tonnes. What’s more, the School Waste Guide estimates that almost 77% of this was avoidable.
Managing and cutting down on waste is not only crucial for sustainability and offsetting the environmental impact of schools but is a cost-saving measure too. It’s clear that we’re not doing enough to prevent food waste in our education system, but what steps can we take to address this?
Getting clear on waste
All schools need to have a clear understanding of how much food waste they are producing, and which foods in particular are causing the biggest problems. Without this knowledge and understanding, it’s unlikely that anything will change.
Carrying out a waste audit is an important step and will help those in charge of school meals build a clear picture of how much food is being ordered versus what is being consumed, which types of foods and meals are being wasted most often, and whether the structure of the school day is having an impact.
For instance, are children given enough time to eat their meals, or are they being rushed and wasting food in the process?
Taking the time to reflect on any patterns is important. This may seem like a simple and obvious step, but details can easily be missed in the chaos of the school day and the same mistakes can be repeated. With this knowledge, schools can more accurately gauge what it is that their pupils want and need from their school meals and lunch times, helping to reduce excessive waste.
The importance of education
It’s not only school staff who need to be aware of the impact of food waste – students need to be educated about this too. Young people who understand why reducing food waste is so important are more likely to take an active approach to addressing the problem, and integrating lessons on sustainability and waste reduction into the curriculum is one way to do this.
According to a government survey conducted in 2023, 84% of children and young people agreed that looking after the environment was important to them, and 87% said they wanted to do more to look after it.
Tapping into this enthusiasm is an important tactic to help reduce food waste in schools. Statistics from Earth.org show that food waste accounts for one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and generates eight per cent of greenhouse gases annually – figures that are likely to concern our young people.
Encouraging students to get involved by measuring their own food waste can be a helpful activity, while placing posters and display boards around lunch halls or canteens can act as a visual prompt to remind children to keep their waste to a minimum. Education can create a culture of change within schools, helping to create a ripple effect amongst families and wider communities too.
Menu planning and portion control
One cause of excess food waste is that schools simply aren’t providing meals that students want to eat. Using unappealing, low-quality ingredients and offering limited options means children are less likely to finish their meal, causing waste to pile up.
Working with a specialist catering company to create bespoke menus is one way to solve this problem. Collaborating with students to design menus that are suited to their preferences and needs means they are more likely to eat the food put in front of them, all while getting the nutrients they need.
Students deserve healthy, delicious and filling meals to help them thrive throughout the school day, and supporting them to take control of this by helping to design exciting menus can be effective.
Overly generous portion sizes can also cause problems. By starting small and encouraging students to ask for a second helping if and when they want it, schools can begin to get a grasp on unnecessary waste.
Using waste for good
While we can work on reducing food waste in schools, it’s inevitable that some will still slip through the net. But rather than throwing it away, some surplus food can be used for a good cause.
Food waste typically ends up in landfill, where it breaks down and produces harmful greenhouse gases including methane, but schools can introduce changes to break this cycle.
For instance, setting up compost bins means food scraps including fruit and vegetable peels don’t go to waste, and can instead be used as compost for school or local community gardens.
Working with charities or food waste incentive schemes is another positive change schools can make. Surplus ingredients can be donated to these schemes, meaning this food can reach those families or individuals in need instead of going to landfill.
Final thoughts
Food waste in schools is a big problem, but with a sustained effort to make positive changes we can begin to tackle this issue.
Awareness is the first step, and once schools understand where they can improve, change will follow. Educating young people on the effects of food waste is crucial, while taking a considered approach to menu design and portion control can help schools meet student needs.
Engaging with food waste schemes means that any inevitable waste can be disposed of in a positive way, helping to promote a culture of change in schools. It may take time and effort, but the results of preventing food waste in schools will be worth it.