Albuquerque Public Schools pilots organic food waste composting program
Albuquerque Public Schools is launching a pilot program to divert organic food waste from its Central Kitchen to a South Valley composting facility. Funded by the Ciudad Soil & Water Conservation District, the initiative targets waste generated from preparing approximately 46,000 daily meals across more than 140 schools, aiming to establish a circular system.
Transforming Central Kitchen Waste Into Compost
Millions of school meals served annually across Albuquerque Public Schools will soon contribute significantly less waste to local landfills. The new pilot program captures organic food waste directly from the APS Central Kitchen. The Ciudad Soil & Water Conservation District is backing the initiative financially for the current school year to test the operational viability of large-scale organic waste diversion.
Logistics for the project rely on Denali, an organics recycling company. Denali collects the food scraps weekly and transports them to Soilutions’ composting facility located in the South Valley. Specialized depackaging technology utilized by Denali separates the food material from its packaging before the processing phase begins. Soilutions then transforms the organic material into usable compost.
This initiative operates as a component of broader waste reduction strategies mandated or encouraged under New Mexico’s Healthy Universal School Meals Initiative. Alongside composting, participating schools utilize share tables, donate surplus food, and ensure students have adequate time to eat to naturally minimize plate waste.
Creating a Circular System for New Mexico Communities
Dawn Dewey, CEO of Soilutions, highlighted the environmental framework supporting the partnership. For years, the company’s Generation Grow program has supplied compost, soil, and mulch to schools and community gardens across New Mexico to foster education on soil health and gardening.
“This partnership takes that mission one step further by creating a true circular system — transforming food scraps from APS into compost that can one day nourish the very gardens where students learn, grow and connect with the environment,” Dewey said.
Marie Johnson, executive director of APS Food & Nutrition Services, emphasized that the waste diversion effort serves an educational function beyond basic sanitation. The program functions as an active classroom for environmental stewardship, teaching students how organic management ties directly back into food production and soil health.
Expanding Environmental Education Beyond the Classroom
Erin Blaz of the Ciudad Soil & Water Conservation District pointed out the ripple effect of student-led environmental education.
“We know that when you educate young people, they take those lessons home to their families,” Blaz said. “But kids also learn by watching us. Our goal is to make sure students and families see these habits show up in their everyday lives — because adults have to practice what we’re teaching, too.”
Organizers intend to evaluate the data gathered from this school year’s pilot to determine whether the collection and composting framework can scale into a permanent, districtwide infrastructure.