Systems Solutions at work in Natick Public School District

Overview

Students, parents and other community members in this K-12 school district wanted to increase waste diversion rates with collection in their cafeterias.

Challenge

The biggest hurdle was procuring products from their distributor that are approved by their composter – Black Earth.

Solution

We worked with Aramark team and Sysco Boston to bring BPI-Certified product into stock. We also used our CIRC program to address concerns - Black Earth has an incredible onboarding program, especially when it comes to schools.

Results

Post-consumer collection is being implemented at a pace that allows for correction when necessary, with the hope to expand the program to more schools within this district and to neighboring Aramark managed districts.

This project took root following conversations at an Aramark sponsored sustainability event.

Eco-Products has been a consistent contributor to Aramark’s sustainability programs and the K-12 team from the Northeast were interested in learning more about implementation in their region. The Natick, Massachusetts, school district was a great trial ground as the district stakeholders were exploring ways to increase sustainable programs across the footprint.

The biggest hurdle was with procurement
and their list not being compliant with their hauler.

Eco-Products connected with Natick Food Service Manager, Matthew Pare, regarding the challenges they were facing. The biggest hurdle was with procurement and their list not being compliant with their hauler. During the discussion we learned that Black Earth Compost was the composter they were working with, a company that Eco-Products has developed a very strong relationship with over the years.

We discovered that the primary hang up was with legacy fiber. Mike Beckerdite, NE Regional Sales Manager for Eco-Products, used his decades long relationships at Sysco Boston to identify non-compliant products and we were able to recommend Vanguard fiber items for replacement. The products were brought into stock for the school and Natick began to purchase them after working through inventory. During this process we also placed Cutlerease dispensers at some of the top composting schools and they are performing well.

Black Earth has an incredible onboarding program, especially when it comes to schools. Post-consumer collection is being implemented at a pace that allows for correction when necessary. We hope to expand the program to more schools within this district and to neighboring Aramark managed districts as well.