Food waste recovery in the national school lunch program: drivers of milk waste and benefits of share tables

Purpose This study was conducted to investigate the influence of school characteristics and meal policies on share table eligible (STE) milk waste (i.e. unopened cartons of milk waste) and estimate the environmental and economic benefits of utilizing share tables (STs) to recover milk waste. Design/methodology/approach Data from the School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study (SNMCS) on student plate waste in 170 schools were used. Tobit regression models were applied to estimate the drivers of STE milk waste and predict annual STE milk waste in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water footprint, and food cost associated with STE milk waste were also estimated. Findings Universal free lunch, open campus, students being allowed to leave the cafeteria early for recess, lunch participation rate, and school location (urban vs. rural) were significant drivers of STE milk waste in the NSLP. Should STs be enforced nationwide, NSLP participating schools could recover over 13% of milk servings or 620 million cartons of milk, reduce GHG emissions by 187 thousand MT of CO2-eq, reduce water footprint by 13 billion liters, and save up to US$118 million in meal expenditures per year. Practical implications This study supports the growing evidence that STs can help school meal programs reduce environmental degradation, address high and rising meal debts, and fight food insecurity. Originality/value This is the first study to examine the drivers of STE milk waste and estimate the environmental and economic impacts of STE milk waste.