Last year, K-12 students in the U.S. were served approximately 4.6 billion lunches and 2.4 billion breakfasts at over 95,000 schools. However, small changes in the way these meals are served can have a significant impact on reducing food and packaging waste, lowering long-term costs, and improving student nutrition. One such change is transitioning from serving milk in single-use cartons or bottles to serving it in bulk.
The USDA requires all K-12 schools to offer students milk as part of school breakfasts and lunches. Currently, around 275 million milk cartons are served to K-12 students every school day, resulting in a significant amount of packaging and fluid milk waste. However, serving milk through bulk dispensers and reusable cups can reduce both packaging and fluid milk waste.
To support schools in transitioning to using bulk milk dispensers, the Chef Ann Foundation has created the Bulk Milk program. By providing equipment, materials, and training, the program helps schools implement a bulk milk serving system. The foundation has announced a new round of grants for school districts to apply for.
The Bulk Milk program has already awarded 43 grants to 18 school districts in 11 states since its launch in 2023. Schools that have implemented the program have seen success in reducing milk and packaging waste. Ryan Mikolaycik, the Food Service Director for the Austin Independent School District, says that “switching to bulk milk is a high-impact opportunity for school districts to create huge sustainability savings – both fiscally and environmentally.”
Using bulk milk dispensers can help schools save 30 pounds of carbon dioxide per student annually, which is equivalent to taking 145,000 gas-powered vehicles off the road. Additionally, bulk milk dispensers can reduce costs for waste hauling, milk purchasing, and refrigeration.
According to a study by the World Wildlife Fund on school milk consumption and waste, schools that use bulk milk dispensers have found that students consume more milk, leading to improved nutrition. Students also report that the milk tastes better when dispensed from a temperature-controlled bulk milk bib.
Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program in the U.S. can apply for a Bulk Milk grant to support their transition to bulk milk dispensers. Applications close on June 27, 2024.
