Once again, we see an initiative to reduce food waste in public schools (“Taking a bite out of food waste,” Maine Sunday Telegram, Jan. 18).

In my files, I have a response referencing an editorial from 2016 — 10 years ago. (“Food we throw away could help solve hunger,” Jan. 4, 2016). I also have a letter to Dr. Glenn Cummings, appointed to the head of the Office of Innovation in September 2024, congratulating him for naming the goal of implementing “low-impact food and waste policies” as part of sustainability in our public schools.  

It is discouraging that food waste in our schools continues to be an issue. Ten years should be significant time for programs to be implemented and seamlessly working. As a long-time former Maine public school employee (retired in 2019), I witnessed the insidious amount of food being dumped in our schools. My efforts to initiate changes were not supported to any great degree.

It is my hope that this latest effort will, at long last, catch on — to the point of it being unacceptable to waste food, just as smoking is unacceptable in our public buildings. Parents can help by packing less for snacks so their children will indeed be hungry for lunch.

Let us envision that this latest effort will finally succeed.

Lucy Webb Hardy
Wells