School Sustainability

Sustain Dane partners with Dane County schools on a variety of sustainability programs. From teaching about waste reduction to implementing compost and recycling programs, we are working to help our local schools create a new generation of sustainability stewards that care about the environment.

Contact us about school sustainability

Share Tables

We’re thrilled to be partnering with Johns Hopkins University and World Wildlife Fund on a two-year research study focused on reducing food waste in our schools. Through this grant, we’ve introduced share tables at three Madison schools, where students can return unopened food items for others to enjoy. Not only are we conducting food waste audits to see the positive impact of this initiative, but we’re also seeing firsthand how enthusiastic the students are about wasting less and helping their peers.

Carton Recycling

Since 2019, Sustain Dane has proudly led the way in bringing lunchtime carton recycling programs to elementary and middle schools, empowering students to make a positive impact on the environment. This initiative has now expanded to several school districts, and together, we’ve recycled 700,000+ cartons! To put that into perspective, that’s the height of 875 Wisconsin State Capitol buildings stacked on top of each other! Thanks to the generous support of the Carton Council of North America, we’re able to continue growing this important program and fostering a culture of sustainability among young students.

Composting

For two years we piloted a composting pick up at four Madison Elementary Schools. During the first year of the program, we diverted 3,950 pounds of food waste from the landfill and instead sent it to Green Box Compost to be transformed into nutrient-rich soil. With the addition of a fourth school, the second year of this program diverted 7,295 pounds for a grand total of 11,245 pounds.

In 2025, in partnership with the City of Sun Prairie, Green Box Compost, and Sun Prairie Area School District, we piloted a composting program. Two elementary schools starting composting in their cafterieas and high school kitchen production staff are diverting their food scraps to compost. 

Composting Education

In partnership with the City of Sun Prairie, Green Box Compost, and Sun Prairie School District, Sustain Dane creating composting education for various elemantary school students. This included two field trips to Green Box Compost in the 2025-2026 school year, a visit and educational presentation to a high school green team and elementary school afterschool club. View the pictures below to learn more about our field trips! 

Composting Field Trip

During the field trip, students participated in three interactive learning stations, plus a full tour of Green Box Compost. 

Composting vs. Recycling vs. Trash

The first learning station was a sorting game to decide which items belong in compost, recycling, or trash, helping them better understand the waste in their cafeterias. 

Worms as Decomposers

The second learning station included education about worms’ role as decomposers with the opportunity to observe and hold worms. 

Dirt for Lunch

In the third learning station students traced their lunch food items back to soil to learn about the importance of healthy soil. They also explored the importance of soil for seed health and plant nutrition.

THANK YOU for your support. It has been way easier than I ever anticipated – mainly due to you! We’ve heard only positive things. It’s been such a pleasure, and I feel so proud about all this work!

Becky Galvan

School Principal, Madison Metropolitan School District

Madison Metropolitan School District Video

Metcalfe’s Earth Day Bags

Our partnership with Metcalfe’s Market commemorates Earth Day by bagging groceries in reusable shopping bags that are hand-decorated by students. Sustain Dane staff coordinate and drop off 4,000 bags to Dane County Schools where students decorate them with what Earth Day means to them.