ZERO WASTE LUNCHES

Each year Australians produce 21 million tonnes of waste. This would fill a line of garbage trucks from Melbourne to London and halfway back. In a WasteNet survey conducted by the Gould League in 1996 it was found that schools on average produce 33 tonnes of waste per year. In a recent National Litter Count it was found that WA had the most pieces of litter per capita than any other state. By reducing the amount of waste from school lunches we can significantly lower the amount of waste we send to landfill and also significantly lower the amount of litter in our schools. Schools all around WA are reducing, reusing and recycling their waste and preventing litter in their school communities. One way of raising awareness on these issues and starting to change behaviours is to implement a Zero Waste Lunch day. A Zero Waste Lunch contains no throwaway packaging and produces no food waste. It also reduces the amount of litter, as there is less waste to become litter. The typical homemade Zero Waste lunch is packed in a lunch box or bag. The food is put in reusable containers rather than wrapped in disposable packaging. A drink is packed in a refillable bottle. All containers are resealable, so that leftover food and drink can be saved for later. Through bringing less waste into schools we can minimise litter, create less waste, save money, and develop healthy eating habits. The intention is to reduce the amount of waste we would normally throw away, and to look for alternative packaging for our food. Did you know?

The energy saved from recycling 1 aluminium can would power a TV for 3 hours. Litter takes a long time to breakdown! Orange and banana peel up to 2 years Plastic bags can take between 20 and 1000 years Aluminium cans 80-100 years Plastic bottles indefinitely

Organising a Zero Waste Lunch day The following is a list of steps that can be followed to implement a Zero Waste Lunch day or program. 1. Discuss the environmental effects of littering and producing waste 2. Look at the kinds of litter and waste produced at school. To simply do this you can conduct a waste and/or litter audit. Take all rubbish produced from lunches, or litter collected, to a central point and calculate the amount of waste. There are a number of simple and safe ways to measure waste, for example: visually count each item of waste, weigh the waste, or observe and estimate the total amount and main types of waste (eg. 50% chip packets, 10% plastic wrap etc) 3. Let parents, school and school community know the results of the investigation 4. Brainstorm with children ideas about how to minimise waste and litter through looking at what they bring to school for lunch and/or what they buy from the canteen 5. Formulate a plan of action from the students ideas 6. Communicate to parents the plan the children have decided upon 7. Brainstorm with students possible foods to bring (healthy options are often the most waste wise) 8. Send note home with ideas 9. Arrange award system 10. Design posters to display around school 11. Remind everyone of the benefits of their efforts

Promoting a Zero Waste Lunch Day

Send letters home to get parents involved Organise a poster contest advertising the day Set up a demonstration table with examples of dos and donts Have in-class competitions which class generates the least amount of waste per child involved? Try not to alienate those who are not involved Hold an environmental theme day, write songs, plays, have games and guest speakers

Remember!

Everything in a zero waste lunch can be eaten, reused, recycled or composted. Shop Smart to reduce unnecessary packaging. Buy food and drink in bulk and bring to school in reusable containers. If you can not recycle or compost lunch waste at school take it home and do it there.

Zero Waste Lunch ideas have been adapted from the following organisations: www.kabc.wa.gov.au General information on litter and Keep Australia Beautiful WAs programs http://www.cleanup.com.au General information on litter www.wastefreelunches.org Provides information on how to participate in or start a waste-free lunch program www.laptoplunches.com/about.html Provides information on how to get more nutrition and less waste www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/lunch.htm Provides information on packing waste-free lunches, including a sample letter to send home to parents and some class activities www.resourcefulschools.org/wastefree_lunch.html Waste free guidelines and promotion ideas www.det.vic.gov.au/det/awards/RubbishFreeLunch/defaultrfl.html Victorian website containing great examples of ideas schools have used www.wastewise.wa.gov.au General information on waste If you require any further information about Zero Waste Lunches or to share the success / experience in your school, please contact the KAB office on (08) 6467 5122 or email kabc@dec.wa.gov.au.