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Caldwell’s Inc. working to reduce food waste at SHS

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 12:27 PM

By Jeff Brown

Caldwell’s Inc. is teaming with Shelbyville High School to conduct a pilot program aimed at recycling food waste and limiting waste headed to a landfill.

Jordan Caldwell (at podium) discussed the “Spoils to Soils” food waste pilot program Monday with the Shelbyville Central Schools board. The goal is to expand the program to Shelbyville’s elementary schools and, eventually, the four school systems in Shelby County.

The pilot program is funded by the Shelby County Recycling District which means there is no cost to SCS.

Caldwell’s will haul Shelbyville High School’s food waste to its facility in Morristown. The material starts in Caldwell’s de-packaging facility that tears open food packaging and separates organic from non-organic components.

The organic material is then transferred to a compost site to prepare it to eventually be spread over farmland.

Caldwell’s will work with Shelbyville High School’s agriculture program to teach and implement the program.

In other board business Monday:

  • Superintendent Dr. Matt Vance announced the school system’s spring head count is 3,593 students — down just three students from the fall head count of 3,596. It is the lowest drop from fall to spring in recent years, according to Vance.
  • Approved moving $700,000 from the $4.7 million rainy day fund to the operations fund for cash flow purposes.

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