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Chisago Lakes High School now joins three other Chisago Lakes schools in recycling food rather than throwing it away. Students separate food from other waste after meals and the recycled food is used by local farmers to feed pigs. This effort reduces the trash that goes into landfills and decreases the cost of hauling. Already recycled this year by Chisago Lakes Schools: 438 barrels, each weighing about 185 pounds, which equals a total of 81,030 pounds or 40.5 tons of food. Gary Noren of the Chisago County Environmental Services Department secured a grant which allowed the schools to initiate this program. He is working on trying to secure funds for the next school year which will take it a step further by adding other ways to recycle, conserve and reuse. Food Services Director, Kathy Burrill headed up the district effort.

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