K12 Meal Waste Reduction

Schools Must Cut Food Waste by 75% – Here's How to Make It Happen

Since 2022, California's SB 1383 mandates that schools work towards a 75% reduction of organic waste. For schools, that means tackling the estimated 530,000 tons of food waste generated annually – representing 27% to 53% of all meals served. The good news? Proven strategies like Offer Versus Serve and share tables can help you meet compliance while benefiting students, budgets, and the environment.

At Revolution Foods, we partner with schools to implement these sustainable solutions effectively.

Why School Food Waste Happens

Several factors drive cafeteria waste:

• Short lunch periods prevent students from finishing meals

• Food preferences mean some items go uneaten

• Standardized portions don't match individual appetites

• Poor meal timing – meals served too early or before recess often get tossed

The Power of Offer Versus Serve

Offer Versus Serve (OVS) is an established National School Lunch Program provision that Revolution Foods can help you implement successfully. Under OVS, schools offer all five meal components at lunch (fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, milk) and four at breakfast (grains, fruits, vegetables, milk), but students select at least three items, including a half-cup of fruit or vegetables.

Real Benefits of OVS Implementation

Environmental Impact:

• Emptier trash cans from eliminating unwanted components

• Reduced plastic waste from smarter ordering of individually wrapped vegetables

• Alignment with your school's wellness plan and sustainability mission

Financial Savings:

• Lower waste management costs, including labor and fewer pickups

• Reduced storage clutter by ordering only what students actually take

• Reinvesting savings from less wasted fruit, vegetables, and milk into premium entrées

Improved Perception:

• Stakeholders no longer see overflowing trash cans in cafeterias

• Walk the talk on your school's wellness plan and sustainability commitments

Student Satisfaction:

• Happier students who control their food choices

• Students don't like throwing away food – it goes against their environmental values

• Treating kids as customers increases participation and creates repeat diners

• Choice-driven menus boost meal program engagement

Share Tables: Turning Waste into Opportunity

Share tables provide another practical waste reduction tool. These designated cafeteria spaces allow students to place unopened, uneaten items (milk cartons, wrapped snacks, whole fruit) for other hungry students to take freely.

While implementing share tables is optional under SB 1383, they offer an added benefit: older students and student athletes who need extra calories can access additional food when standard portions aren't quite enough to fuel their day. This creates a win-win situation where food that might otherwise be discarded instead nourishes students with higher energy needs.

Additional Waste Reduction Strategies

Beyond OVS and share tables, schools can take additional steps to reduce waste:

• Extend lunch periods for adequate eating time

• Schedule meals when students are genuinely hungry

• Engage students in waste tracking to build environmental awareness

• Align menus with student preferences

At Revolution Foods, we take student input seriously. Before items appear on school menus, we invite students to taste-test and provide feedback. This ensures we serve food kids actually want to eat, reducing waste and supporting healthier habits.

Why Partnering with Revolution Foods Matters

Now that you've put these waste-reducing strategies in place, you won't be filling up that composting bin as frequently! The best waste is the waste you never create—and with smarter ordering and student choice, you're making real progress toward that goal.

For more information regarding the composting requirements of SB 1383, visit https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/schools/

Meeting SB 1383 requirements doesn't have to be overwhelming. As a certified B Corp committed to sustainability, Revolution Foods provides coaching and implementation support for OVS programs and waste reduction strategies.

Our platform lets schools personalize component ordering percentages—adjusting vegetables, fruits, and milk flavors based on the day of the week. This means you order exactly what students will eat, reducing waste before it arrives.

The results benefit everyone: schools save money on waste management and food costs, students enjoy greater autonomy, and your district demonstrates environmental leadership while meeting compliance requirements.

Ready to reduce waste? Contact us to learn how we can help your school implement sustainable, student-centered strategies that make an impact, one meal at a time.