We are excited to announce that Xavier Jesuit Academy has received the Waste Reduction Innovation Grant from Hamilton County ReSource. With this grant, we have installed a high-efficiency dishwasher in our kitchen and purchased reusable utensils, trays, and other kitchen items for student meals and campus events.
Previously, our cafeteria relied heavily on disposable plastic utensils, foam trays, and single-use containers. This new initiative will eliminate thousands of single-use plastic items from our daily operations, aligning with our Jesuit values of care for creation and service to others.
Currently, we take out six bags of trash from the cafeteria daily. This project will cut that waste by one-third, diverting up to 64 gallons of trash from the landfill daily. Over one year, we estimate this will divert 33.6 tons of waste from the landfill. As XJA continues to grow, adding approximately 15 students per grade annually through 2028-2029, the environmental benefits will multiply.
This initiative aligns perfectly with global movements like Plastic Free July, which encourages millions to reduce single-use plastic consumption. By installing permanent infrastructure to eliminate disposable cafeteria items, XJA is making a year-round commitment to these principles. Our students will experience firsthand how institutional choices contribute to environmental solutions, preparing them to be leaders in environmental stewardship.
This grant is part of a bigger plan for kitchen renovation. XJA is working to raise the funding needed to complete a full kitchen renovation. The renovation will transform our space into a full scratch kitchen for student meals, cooking classes, and use by the parishioners of the Church of the Resurrection for their fellowship events. In the meantime, the ability to install a high-temp dishwasher will significantly simplify clean-up after student meals and school events.
We are grateful to Hamilton County ReSource for their partnership in helping XJA build a more sustainable future. Through this project, we continue living out our mission of preparing young men to be "Men for Others" who understand their responsibility to care for our common home.
Interested in supporting this initiative? Contact our Advancement Office at advancement@xavierja.org.
