Bedford Public Schools, Bedford, MA

Bedford Public Schools, located in Bedford, Massachusetts, serve approximately 2,500 students across four schools: Lt. Eleazer Davis Elementary (PK–2), Lt. Job Lane Elementary (3–5), John Glenn Middle School (6–8), and Bedford High School (9–12). Approximately 1,400 lunches are served daily across the district.

Thanks to a generous donation from PlasticFreeRestaurants.org, the schools’ polystyrene (foam) lunch trays were traded for Ahimsa stainless steel reusable trays in December 2024. This was the final phase of a district-wide cafeteria waste reduction program; since 2023, the district has implemented a food share table, and separating recycling, food scraps, and liquids from true trash.

Read The Full Case Study Here (PDF)

ReThink Disposable is a program of Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund conducted in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and government agencies. Generous support is provided by a changing list of public and private funders. To learn more about the program, its partners, and funders, visit: www.rethinkdisposable.org.

Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:

Single-use expanded polystyrene 5-compartment tray

Recommendations Implemented:

Durable stainless-steel 5-compartment tray

Before & After

A school lunch served on a white styrofoam tray

A rack of steel lunch trays lined up for washing

MA-Bedford-ReThink-Case-Study.pdf (981.12 KB)

Business Information:

97 McMahon Rd
Bedford, MA 01730
United States

Website

The Bottom Line

$11,777.40

annual net cost savings

261,720

disposable items reduced per year

5,796 lbs.

annual waste reduction

In the Lane school, we have gone from 18 bags of trash a lunch day down to 6. The reusable trays have vastly reduced the amount of garbage thrown out and have actually streamlined the whole lunchtime custodial operation.

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Sam Martin, Lead Custodian

ReThink Disposable - Stop waste before it starts

Reducing Single-Use Food Packaging

ReThink Disposable works with local governments, businesses and institutions, and consumers of single use food packaging to inspire a cultural shift away from single-use "throwaway" lifestyle.

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