School Compost & Recycling
Action Plan Institute (SCRAPI)
Dream Big, Waste Less: Funding & Support for School Waste Projects!
Now Accepting Applications through April 8, 2025.
Collaborate
Collaborate with educators and experts from around the state to improve waste management at your school.
Receive Funding
Receive at least $3,500 in funding to implement your sustainable materials management action plan.
Earn Credit
Earn 3 credits toward professional development goals through Vermont State University. Need-based funding available to cover enrollment costs.
About SCRAPI
The School Compost & Recycling Action Plan Institute (SCRAPI) will kick off with two immersive, day-long training sessions on June 30th and July 28th, 2025. During these sessions, school teams will collaborate with experts to create a tailored materials management Action Plan aimed at reducing waste, enhancing recycling efforts, improving food scraps diversion, and integrating sustainable materials management into their school culture and curricula. Each participating school will receive at least $3,500 in funding to implement their Action Plans in the following year, along with ongoing mentorship from local experts and Institute staff.
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SCRAPI is an initiative of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and Long Creek Resources, LLC. It is funded by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation through the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program.
What is Sustainable Materials Management?
Sustainable materials management is an approach to resource use that aims to maximize resource use efficiency and minimize waste. To read more about the benefits of sustainable material management, check out this EPA page.​
Goals of SCRAPI
Maximize overall waste reduction and minimize disposal. Why? To use less energy, emit fewer greenhouse gases, consume fewer resources, and create less material that needs to be managed and disposed of properly.
Promote sustainable materials management. Why? To encourage the circulation of resources in the economy that can save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the use of raw materials, and conserve resources for the future.
Reduce toxicity of waste and the quantity of toxic products used. Why? To reduce the toxicity of the waste stream and to protect public and environmental health.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through better materials management and promote climate change resilience. Why? To reduce the effects of materials management on climate change and build a more environmentally sustainable and resilient Vermont.
Promote equity, accessibility, and environmental justice. Why? Vermont’s natural resources are held in trust for everyone and should be a source of inspiration and enjoyment for all. The State is committed to ensuring that everyone living in and visiting Vermont has meaningful access and equal opportunity to participate in Agency programs, services, and activities.
Building a School Team
School teams will consist of 3-5 members from each school representing various roles, including teachers, students, administrators, food service, custodial staff, and more. Collaboration and diverse perspectives are key to driving sustainable, positive change in our school communities. We are building a cohort for SCRAPI and we are looking for a variety of experiences and needs for waste management among participating schools. We also seek a range of geographic, socioeconomic, and grade-level representation.
Time Commitment
SCRAPI is a year-long program that will kick off with two immersive, day-long workshops on June 30th and July 28th, 2025. School teams will implement their Action Plans during the 2025/2026 school year with support from Institute staff and local mentors.
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Spring 2025: School teams apply to and are enrolled in the Institute.
Summer 2025: School teams attend day-long workshops on June 30th and July 28th, 2025 at the VTSU Randolph Campus.
September 2025 - June 2026: Schools implement Action Plans with support from mentors and finish the Institute with a revised Action Plan for the following school year.
Spring/Summer 2026: End of Institute Showcase
Meet Our Core Instructors
Our team brings expertise in both sustainable materials management and education.
