School Food Waste Solutions
Working with education providers to deliver food waste collections.
Schools, colleges, and universities manage food service every day, and with it comes food waste from preparation, service, and plate returns. In an educational setting, waste management must be handled carefully to maintain hygiene standards while avoiding disruption to the school day.
ReFood works with the education sector and contract caterers to deliver food waste collections that fit around how education environments operate. We understand that kitchens are busy at set times and quiet at others, and collections must support this rhythm.
When are collections scheduled?
Collections are scheduled around key points in the school day to avoid disruption and minimise contact with students. Our schedule helps maintain safe and controlled environments while allowing catering teams to work efficiently.
Food waste volumes in education change throughout the year. Term times, holidays, and student numbers all have an impact. Our flexible scheduling allows services to scale up or down to match actual demand, ensuring schools receive only the services they need.
Food waste in education is often unavoidable, arising from preparation waste and plate returns. The priority for schools and universities is always to minimise waste first, while ensuring that what remains is handled responsibly.
Education providers are increasingly keen to link operations with learning. ReFood supports this by helping schools and universities use food waste recycling as a positive sustainability story.
Downloadable lesson plans on anaerobic digestion
We offer downloadable lesson plans on anaerobic digestion, helping teachers explain how food waste is turned into renewable energy and fertiliser. We can also arrange student tours of our facilities or deliver talks in schools and colleges, providing students with real-world insight into renewable energy and the circular economy.
Food waste collected is processed through anaerobic digestion to generate renewable energy and biofertiliser. This allows education providers to demonstrate sustainability in action, not just in policy.
For education settings, food waste management is about maintaining clean kitchens, safe environments, and responsible practices. ReFood provides dependable, flexible services that support both operational needs and sustainability goals.
Get Started with ReFood
A simple way to start turning your food waste into renewable energy.
01
Get in Touch
Contact ReFood today via phone (0800 011 3214), email (info@refood.co.uk), or our quick enquiry form. Tell us about your business, food waste volume, and any specific needs (e.g., space constraints or collection frequency). Our team provides free, no-obligation advice tailored to your site.
02
We Set Up Your Service
We design a flexible collection plan that fits your operations, whether it's clean bin swaps (sanitised 240-litre bins or smaller caddies), bag collections for tight spaces, or bulk options for larger producers. No bin rental fees, no hidden charges. We ensure full compliance with regulations, including Animal By-Product rules, and handle everything with traceability and hygiene in mind.
03
Reap the Benefits
Your food waste is collected reliably on your schedule and processed through our closed-loop anaerobic digestion system. It turns into renewable energy (to power businesses and communities) and nutrient-rich bio-fertiliser for farms, diverting waste from landfill, reducing your carbon footprint, and supporting sustainability goals. Enjoy hassle-free service, transparent reporting, and the satisfaction of turning waste into a resource.
Our Lessons
Lesson 1
The food waste journey
The food that we put into the bin doesn't have to go straight into the landfill. At ReFood we've developed a process that collects and converts food waste into renewable energy and creates a nutrient-rich fertiliser. This lesson describes how the process works, and explains the benefits of food waste recycling.
Lesson 2
Making sure food waste doesn't go to waste
Food is something we all take for granted, and it is easy to forget how much food we waste. This exercise encourages students to take a closer look at the food they throw away and think of alternative uses for unwanted meals.
