DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL OF RHODE ISLAND EDUCATION FUND (ECRI) TO CONDUCT THEIR RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL RECYCLING CLUB 'GET FOOD SMART, RI; PHASE 3'.ACTIVITIES:THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT FOOD WASTE DIVERSION PROGRAMS AT FOUR RHODE ISLAND K-12 SCHOOLS TO SUPPORT THE NEW RHODE ISLAND STATE LAW TITLED 'SCHOOL WASTE RECYCLING AND REFUSE DISPOSAL' WHICH MANDATES THAT MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN RHODE ISLAND DIVERT FOOD SCRAPS AWAY FROM RHODE ISLAND'S CENTRAL LANDFILL IN JOHNSTON AND RECOVER SURPLUS FOOD FOR REDISTRIBUTION OR DONATION BEGINNING JANUARY 2023. IN ADDITION, MONITORING ONGOING RESULTS WILL CONTINUE AT THE FOUR SCHOOLS FROM PHASE 2 OF THE PROJECT.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:EXPECTED DELIVERABLES, UPDATE THE FOOD WASTE REDUCTION TOOLKIT FOR RHODE ISLAND SCHOOLS; RECRUIT SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE IN GET FOOD SMART RI AND FACILITATE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS; MEASURE RESULTS WITH STUDENTS AND REDUCE FOOD WASTE WITH DATA; AND CREATE A RECOGNITION PROGRAM TO SHARE SUCCESSES. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE THE STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS OF TARGET COMMUNITIES WHO WILL HAVE A DECREASED RISK OF ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS OF DISPOSAL OF WASTED FOOD INCLUDING BY DIVERTING FOOD WASTE FROM LANDFILL, THEREBY REDUCING METHANE GAS EMISSIONS THAT IMPACT CLIMATE CHANGE AND RECOVERING HEALTHY FOOD FOR REDISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.