The Circular Future of School Food

Waste to Wisdom: How Shropshire Schools Are Leading the Way with Composting

At a time when food, fuel, and climate concerns are at the forefront of school decision-making, 16 local schools are taking matters—quite literally—into their own hands. Through the Schools Food Web project, these schools are working together to build a circular, zero-waste food system—and it all starts with what’s on their plates… and what’s left behind.

Thanks to support from the Schools Food Web project funded by the Let’s Go Zero’s – Zero Carbon Fund, and workshops provided by Shropshire Master Composters, each of these schools is now equipped with composting knowledge and a Hotbin composter, enabling them to tackle food waste head-on, reduce carbon emissions, and grow their own food from their own compost.

Oakmeadow CofE Primary School held a competition to give their old redundant bins a glow up after their Master Composters Session, the winning designs were painted by a local artist. These are filling up nicely now.

UK schools collectively throw away an estimated 75,000 tonnes of food every year (WRAP, 2021). Much of that waste ends up in landfill, where it releases methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. By contrast, composting is a win-win: it prevents emissions and creates a rich resource that can go back into the school garden. From

The Hotbin composter makes composting quick, safe, and school-friendly. Its high temperature and insulation mean it can process even cooked food and small bones in a matter of weeks, with no odours and no need for turning. That means pupils get to see the full cycle of food: from waste to compost to growth.

The Schools Food Web project isn’t just about composting—it’s about systems thinking. These 16 schools are exploring how food connects to learning, health, wellbeing, the environment, and community.

By installing Hotbins, schools are actively:

·        - Cutting their food waste to as close to zero as possible

·        - Growing food with their own compost

·        - Teaching pupils about carbon, climate, and the power of local action

·        - Creating self-sustaining food systems right in the playground

And because the Schools Food Web project has provided funding, training and workshops, these schools aren’t just being asked to change—they're being empowered to do so.

Hollinswood Primary School Feeding Their HotBin Composter

To help pupils understand the true impact of food waste, a game is being developed: Match the Waste!

This interactive activity invites pupils to match:

·        - A weight of food waste (e.g. 2 kg)

·        - Its carbon equivalent (e.g. 3.8 kg CO2e)

·        - A relatable comparison (e.g. 'Charging 300 smartphones')

This easy and relatable game is great for eco clubs and outdoor class

rooms, making abstract carbon concepts tangible—and fun.

Every kilogram of food waste composted instead of binned saves 1.9 kg of CO2e. Over the course of a year, schools in the programme will divert tonnes of food waste and prevent thousands of kilograms of carbon emissions, and just for business managers, saving £’s on food waste collection and compost, there might even be an opportunity to have a school compost sale.

This hands-on climate action aligns with the UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy and the DfE’s Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy (2022), both of which emphasise the role of schools in meeting national goals.

Composting has surprising ripple effects. It encourages pupils to connect with nature, calm their minds, and take pride in nurturing their environment. Composting becomes a daily act of care—and a way to feel hopeful in the face of climate anxiety.

Schools that grow food with their own compost also build resilience into their food systems, reducing reliance on external inputs and embedding sustainability in every snack and seedling.

The vision of the Schools Food Web is bold but beautifully simple:

·        - No food waste

·        - Home-grown food

·        - Compost created on site

·        - Pupils empowered as climate citizens

By making this a reality in 16 schools, we’re proving that it can be done—and that it starts with a bin full of peelings and a class full of curiosity.

As well as the game, there will also be a webinar, curriculum map and lesson plan available (coming soon), to support other schools wishing to implement the same initiative.