CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR EFFORT TO ACHIEVE A WASTE FREE SCHOOL.

Kids: it’s time to pack your own waste-free lunch

While kids’ lunches don’t have to be perfectly-assembled masterpieces, plastic food packaging such as cling wrap, zip-lock bags and chip packets end up in landfill where they may never break down. To combat this and raise awareness, many ACT schools are holding waste-free lunch days, resulting in less waste going to landfill, and cleaner playgrounds.

Example of soft plastics we see in lunch boxes everyday at Holy Trinity

Our student leaders from the Sustainability Group have decided to take action and to hold their own WEDNESDAY WASTE-FREE lunch days to promote the benefits of packing food in reusable or recyclable containers and packaging.

Sound too challenging for your household? You don’t have to put it in the ‘too hard’ basket.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU MAKE WASTE-FREE LUNCH BOXES A REALITY:

• Buy mini containers and compartment lunch boxes (small hands can help pack their own lunches!).
• Buy snacks in bulk like unsweetened yogurt, hummus, cheese or crackers, and dispense into small reusable containers as required.
• Many fruits and vegetables come wrapped in their own ‘natural packaging’, such as tomatoes, snow peas, oranges, bananas, baby cucumbers and beans.
• Include fruit and vegetables in your child’s lunchbox every day. It’s a great way to make these foods a normal part of your child’s life, which can potentially lessen waste and reduce grocery costs.
• Always pack a refillable bottle of water, or a frozen water bottle on hot days.
• Wrap sandwiches in a cloth napkin, reusable beeswax wrap or a paper bag. You could even encourage your school to make and sell beeswax wraps to raise funds for the school!
• Have children choose from a list of healthy, package-free options, and assist in making their own lunch to avoid uneaten food.
• Buy seasonal fruit and vegetables to save money and reduce food miles. Better still, grow your own!
• Avoid buying individually-wrapped snacks, squeeze pouch yoghurts and single-use sandwich bags.
• Tuna tins, yoghurt containers and juice boxes can be recycled if your school has co-mingled recycling. Ask your school for more details.

(source: HerCanberra)