County Executive Adam Bello announces food waste diversion grants for five Monroe County school districts

Monroe County, New York – A growing effort to cut food waste and promote environmental responsibility in local schools is set to continue for another year after Monroe County Executive Adam Bello announced that five school districts have been selected to receive Food Waste Diversion Program grants for the 2026-2027 academic year.

The initiative, now entering its second year, is designed to keep food waste out of landfills while helping students better understand sustainability, conservation, and the environmental consequences of wasted food. The districts chosen to participate this year are Brighton, Fairport, Penfield, Pittsford, and West Irondequoit.

County officials say the program has already demonstrated meaningful results during its first year. Beyond reducing waste, the initiative has encouraged students and school staff to become active participants in environmental stewardship, turning everyday cafeteria operations into opportunities for learning and action.

“Engaging students in developing solutions to reduce school food waste not only enhances understanding but encourages problem solving, building lifelong skills,” said County Executive Bello. “After the success of year one of the program, we are excited to see what comes next for these districts!”

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The Food Waste Diversion Program addresses a larger environmental challenge facing communities across the country. When food is discarded and sent to landfills, it decomposes and produces greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. By diverting food waste to authorized organics recycling facilities, schools can reduce those emissions while also minimizing the resources lost through uneaten food.

Early results from the program suggest that even relatively small changes can have a substantial impact. Between September and December of 2025 alone, participating schools successfully diverted approximately 85,000 pounds of food waste from landfills. Instead, that material was sent to facilities approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, helping reduce landfill use and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

County leaders believe those numbers highlight the importance of involving students in environmental initiatives. By seeing firsthand how waste reduction works, students gain practical experience that extends beyond the classroom and can influence future habits and decisions.

“As Chair of the County Legislature’s Environment and Public Works Committee, I could not be more thrilled to see collaborative programs implemented in our community,” said Legislator Susan Hughes-Smith. “The food waste diversion programs that will both make a positive environmental impact and support students in their efforts to push for a healthy and sustainable future.”

Another county leader emphasized the educational value of the initiative and the role young people can play in shaping community attitudes toward sustainability.

“Education and environmental activism go hand in hand, especially when our young people are educating their elders,” said Legislator John Baynes.

The grants awarded to participating districts will support a variety of projects aimed at reducing food waste throughout school operations. Successful proposals included plans for staff training, student-led educational activities, composting efforts, and expanded waste diversion programs in kitchens, cafeterias, and school events. The goal is to make food waste reduction a visible and routine part of school life.

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Officials from each selected district welcomed the opportunity to continue or expand their work through the program.

“The Brighton Central School District is pleased to announce that we have once again been selected by the Monroe County Food Waste Diversion Program to receive a grant of up to $5,000 for the 2026/2027 school year,” said Brighton Central School District Superintendent Kevin McGowan. “These funds will continue to help us reach our goal of becoming a zero-waste community. We want to thank the County for their continued support of all our schools in the area.”

Fairport Central School District Superintendent Brett Provenzano highlighted the connection between environmental education and real-world action.

“The Fairport Central School District is proud to be part of Monroe County Food Waste Diversion Program. When students connect sustainability education to action in their own schools, they are empowered to make responsible choices in the world outside of their classrooms and cafeterias,” said Fairport Central School District Superintendent Brett Provenzano.

Penfield Central School District Superintendent Dr. Tasha Potter noted that sustainability education helps students build skills that can influence future decision-making.

“The Penfield Central School District is proud to enter year two of the Monroe County Food Waste Diversion Program,” said Penfield Central School District Superintendent Dr. Tasha Potter. “We find this program incredibly important because learning about sustainability at school helps students develop responsible habits and critical thinking skills. This, in turn, empowers them to make environmentally conscious decisions in their daily lives and future careers.”

For Pittsford schools, the grant will help expand a program that already showed positive results during an initial pilot phase.

“We are thrilled to again receive the Monroe County grant for Food Waste Diversion. Last school year, we piloted eight school kitchens with great success and look forward to scaling this process to become a routine part of the work we do in our school kitchens,” said Pittsford Central School District Superintendent Shana Cutaia.

Meanwhile, West Irondequoit officials said the renewed funding will allow the district to continue strengthening its environmental efforts while involving students directly in sustainability initiatives.

“West Irondequoit is proud to receive this grant for a second consecutive year, reinforcing our commitment to reducing food waste and promoting sustainable practices across our schools,” said West Irondequoit Central School District Superintendent Aaron Johnson. “This support allows us to continue expanding our food diversion efforts and empowering our students to be responsible stewards of the environment.”

As the program enters its second year, county leaders hope the participating districts will continue building on the momentum established during the first phase. With thousands of pounds of food already diverted from landfills and students playing an increasingly active role in sustainability efforts, the initiative is becoming both an environmental project and an educational opportunity that reaches far beyond the cafeteria.