Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
See how Birmingham students turn food waste into soil with this unique program
Reading time: 5 minutes
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In the cafeteria at Glen Iris Elementary School, unfinished apples don’t have to end up in the trash. Students learn to harvest fruit from the school’s teaching farm, eat it and then toss the scraps into the compost—seeing firsthand how food can make its way back into the soil.
That’s the kind of hands-on lesson Kristina O’Quinn, a full-time farm instructor with Jones Valley Teaching Farm, is bringing to students through the garden.
And it’s also a great example of the bigger idea behind the Jefferson County Department of Health’s Green Loop Initiative, which is helping Birmingham-area schools, restaurants and residents find simple ways to reduce food waste.
Food waste doesn’t have to be trash
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Service (EPA), food makes up about 24% of municipal solid waste sent to U.S. landfills—where it contributes to methane emissions. But much of that food could have another use.
“The whole point of the program is to teach everyone in the community about easy methods of reducing food waste. We take for granted here that when you finish something, you just throw it in the garbage, and many people don’t realize it all goes into a landfill.
Food has value. When you put it in the landfill, it goes to rot and just takes up space, creating methane gas. But when you compost it, it’s going back into the ground and making the soil more nutrient-rich.”
Haskey Bryant, Environmental Health Program Supervisor at JCDH
Bryant breaks it down into three simple Rs:
- Reduce: Plan grocery trips, make lists + be thoughtful about portions
- Reuse: Compost food scraps, leaves, grass clippings + other organic materials
- Rescue: Save leftovers or find ways to repurpose food instead of throwing it away
Farmer Kristina is making composting hands-on for Birmingham kids
At local schools like Glen Iris Elementary, students can see that process for themselves. The school is one of eight Birmingham City Schools with composting through Jones Valley Programing.
Farmer Kristina showed us two areas where students can contribute to compost: a dry pile for leaves, twigs and greenery and a tumbling composting bin for fruits and vegetables. The teaching farm also grows plants and herbs specifically to attract pollinators and assist in decomposition.
“The garden even grows an herb called comfrey. We harvest it to add to our compost, and it helps accelerate the decomposition process.”
Kristina O’Quinn, Jones Valley Teaching Farm instructor at Glen Iris Elementary School
The teaching farm doubles as an outdoor classroom, too. Students use crops like purple hull peas to practice addition and multiplication while learning where their food comes from.
For Farmer Kristina, it’s about connecting the dots—from seedling to harvest to compost and, eventually, back into the soil.
A “Shared Table” is keeping good food out of the trash
Composting is just one part of the Green Loop Initiative.
This year, JCDH also worked with Birmingham City Schools to launch Shared Table, a program that gives students access to unopened, prepackaged and shelf-stable food that might otherwise be thrown away.
A spring 2026 plate-waste study at Tuggle Elementary found that implementing Shared Table saved 55 pounds of edible food—or $62.48 worth—from being wasted.
That’s a small but tangible example of the Green Loop mission, and things add up quickly when you consider the impact that dozens or hundreds of schools could have.
How to start composting + cutting food waste at home
How can you get involved at home? Start with a small countertop compost bin or sealed container for food scraps, then transfer them to an outdoor compost bin or pile where they can break down into nutrient-rich soil.
Save and repurpose leftovers. Plan deliberate grocery trips. Find ways to share food that’s still safe to eat.
And if you’re a restaurant or other food business, JCDH can help you understand food-waste reduction options while keeping food safety in mind.
“We want to work with the community, with school leaders, with educators, with neighborhood associations, just where we can to support that. If you want to get involved with our mission, reach out to the Jefferson County Department of Health, and we’ll connect you with the resources you need.”
Haskey Bryant, Environmental Health Program Supervisor at JCDH
Learn more about the Jefferson County Department of Health’s Green Loop Initiative, including resources for composting + reducing food waste.
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