Out of the Landfill and into the Piggy Bank

Keeping food waste out of the landfill in Burke County, North Carolina is as easy as adding it to the Piggy Bank! Through a unique partnership with a local pig farmer, Chartwells K12 and Burke County Public Schools donate food waste from the cafeteria through their Piggy Bank program that goes to feed local pigs, inspired by local farmer Marty Browning.

Since the early 1990s, Browning has been one of the only farmers in western North Carolina licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Garbage Feeding Program. Established by the Swine Health Protection Act, farmers must be licensed by the USDA to feed food waste to their pigs and follow the requirements and regulations for this unique program.

For years, Mr. Browning had depended on local supplier donations to support his farm, but the COVID-19 pandemic slowed production in the region, causing him to look elsewhere. After conversations with Burke County Public Schools and Chartwells K12, the team established the new Piggy Bank program to fight food waste at their school and make a difference for the community and environment.

Since the leftover food going to the Piggy Bank program is not sealed or packaged, it can’t be donated to local nonprofits and would otherwise go to the landfill. Now, every Friday, Mr. Browning picks up the leftover food waste from the cafeterias and follows the required steps to be able to feed it to his pigs.

While the program originated by diverting kitchen food waste when students returned for the 2021-2022 school year, Chartwells K12 expanded the program to the cafeteria. It allowed students to put any of their leftovers into a separate bin that would be added to the Piggy Bank and donated to Browning’s farm.

Food stays out of the landfills because of the Piggy Bank program partnership with Chartwells K12 and Burke County Public Schools. It offers the district another way to help positively impact the environment and exposes students to creative ways they can help make a difference in the fight against food waste.