At East Rochester Schools, conservation is a year-round endeavor. This Earth Day, we’re recognizing how conservation is built into the daily routines of students and staff across the district, starting in one particular room: the cafeteria.

For its daily breakfast and lunch offerings, ER uses reusable lunch trays that are washed and sanitized after each use. While many schools rely on disposable paper or foam trays, this approach eliminates a substantial amount of daily waste and reduces what is sent to landfills.

In one elementary school of 200 students in Rhode Island, switching to reusable trays reduced cafeteria waste significantly, cutting daily trash from nine full bags to just a fraction of one. At East Rochester, which serves more than four times as many students, that same concept is applied districtwide, multiplying the impact each day.

“East Rochester serves approximately 143,000 meals in a school year using reusable trays," said Staci SanSoucie, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations. "Changing to disposable trays would increase expenses by nearly $9,000 a year. By using the District’s dish washing rooms and reusing trays, it provides the District’s Food Service Program with an annual savings of 60-65%. This also reduces the amount of paper waste by approximately 20%.”

ER’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond the cafeteria. The district maintains a comprehensive recycling program and continues to invest in energy-efficient upgrades, including improved lighting systems, occupancy sensors, and automated building controls that help reduce energy use across campus.

Students also take an active role in district conservation efforts. Elementary students participate in composting initiatives, and learn about environmental responsibility through various science class learning modules. Additionally, the Farm-to-Table grant brings locally-sourced food into school meals, connecting our sustainability pursuits with community partnerships.

Sometimes, small district quirks can lead to a big impact in unexpected ways. With a single connected UPK-12 building and a compact municipal footprint, many ER students walk to school each day, naturally reducing transportation-related emissions.

Supplemental efforts include the use of environmentally-certified cleaning products, water-saving fixtures, and recycled materials in facilities such as athletic fields and outdoor spaces.

“Using a cleaning program built around green cleaning products helps us to minimize risks and adverse impacts on student and employee health as well as the environment," said Dan Friday, Director of Facilities. "Our continued work in meeting the ever-evolving energy code during capital construction and asset replacement projects allows us to create learning environments that prioritize indoor air quality and comfort while reducing our carbon footprint.”

Looking ahead, the district continues to explore new ways to reduce its environmental impact. Ongoing initiatives include expanding bottle-filling stations to reduce plastic waste, increasing the use of LED lighting, incorporating recycled materials into construction projects, and evaluating alternative energy options.

Through these combined efforts, East Rochester Schools continues to show that conservation is not a one-time initiative, but a daily commitment that benefits both the environment and the students who learn within it.