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Open Eyes By Measuring Lunchroom Waste
According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, it has been estimated that, on average, a single school-age child generates 67 pounds of lunchtime waste per school year, or 18,760 pounds of lunch waste for one average-size elementary school. Why use educational dollars to pay for trash disposal? We all generate solid waste, but seldom do we visualize the magnitude of it. The Lunchroom Waste Audit will help your school realize that the amount of garbage accumulated from just ONE day is more than they would ever think! The audit is a group activity where the day's garbage is sorted, weighed and recorded. It also brings an opportunity for interesting conversation about why there is so much garbage in the first place, what the students can do to reduce the amount of garbage at the school and how they can get others motivated about this important issue. Download the Lunchroom Waste Audit. |
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Source Reduction is the Key
Waste-Free Lunches Have BIG Impact
 Any given day, half of a school's waste is generated in the cafeteria or lunch room. Many single-serve items come in packages with additional packaging - convenient but create waste and usually cost more money. To reduce waste and conserve resources, promote the Waste-Free Lunch concept. Simply put, students and staff pack their food/beverage in reusable containers, include washable tableware and a cloth napkin. Everything is put into a reusable lunch bag for transport. The other component to a Waste-Free Lunch is to bring food that will be eaten. So often parents put nutritional items in their child's lunch, but if traded or thrown away, the child does not benefit. Communication is key between the parent and child.
Visit wastefreelunches.com for additional sources and case studies about Waste-Free Lunches. In addition, wastefreelunches.com is currently updating the "Sucess Stories" on the website and would like to know of programs in the SWANCC area. Please let us know about your programs so we can coordinate with them and help inspire more schools to be less wasteful! |
