Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School has officially joined Green Ellsworth’s composting movement — and it all starts in the cafeteria!
Beginning in October of 2025, Green Ellsworth partnered with the local company Chickadee Composting for a two year composting pilot project – and we are one of several City of Ellsworth businesses that have joined forces!
As part of the two year program, EEMS students are now separating food scraps at lunch and sending them off to be composted. The initiative is part of a broader effort to reduce food waste, strengthen Maine’s local food systems, and teach students how small actions can make a big impact.
Every day, students scrape leftover food off of their trays and into green bins labeled for compost. The bins are picked up by Chickadee Compost, a Surry-based company, which transforms the scraps into nutrient-rich compost for local farms and gardens across the area!
Composting at EEMS isn’t just about tossing scraps — it’s about growing a greener future. Our students are learning how food waste can be turned into healthy soil, and also learning that simple actions like saving food waste for compost can help out local businesses!
This effort is part of a larger community composting pilot that includes curbside pickup for residents, drop-off locations, and educational partnerships with the Ellsworth School District and Food Rescue Maine. The goal? To build a circular food system where nothing goes to waste.
You can learn more about the pilot project at greenellsworth.org — and check out the photo gallery to see our students and compost bins in action!