Pack A Waste Free Lunch
Pack A Waste Free Lunch
Pack A Waste Free Lunch
lunch that must be thrown out, or only using those that can
Prevent pollution
Conserve natural resources such as coal, oil, natural gas,
and trees
Save energy
2. Get the Message Out! Before the Waste-Free Lunch Day, educate stu
dents and teachers about the event. Students can make their own
waste-free lunch posters in art class, or an announcement can be made
over the school intercom system. Use the school newsletter to educate
5. Measure Success. Use the charts to the right to determine the success
parents about the event and how they can help.
of the Waste-Free Lunch Day. Make note of the items included in each
3. Have a Waste-Free Lunch Day. On the Waste-Free Lunch Day, have
lunch before the Waste-Free Lunch Day to be able to compare the suc
each student and teacher bring in a waste-free lunch (or as close to
cess of the day.
waste-free as possible). Work with the school cafeteria staff to plan a
6. Share Your Story! Help others join the waste-free lunch craze by shar
waste-free lunch for students who dont bring in their own from
ing your success story! E-mail your story and pictures from your Wastehome. During the school-wide waste-free lunch, have students and
Free Lunch Day to EPA at [email protected]. In your email, include
teachers share how they made their lunches waste-free.
your name, your schools name, an explanation of what you did to make
4. Dont Stop Here. While planning the Waste-Free Lunch Day, work
your Waste-Free Lunch Day a success, and any photos you would like
together with school administrators, teachers, support staff, and com
posted on the EPA Web site. Photos should be at least 5 inches by 7
munity public health services to put leftovers to good use:
inches and 72 dots per inch. Make sure you have your schools permis
sion before sending photos to be posted on the EPA Web site.
Name: _____________________________________________________________________
Use this worksheet to compare which items in your lunch were reusable, recyclable,
compostable, or waste before and after your Waste-Free Lunch Day. The goal is to have
the majority of the leftover items from your lunch in the first three columns, and have as
few items as possible in the waste column.
Recyclables
Compostables
Waste
packaging for cookies,
Where to Recycle
Totals:
Recyclables
1 soda can
Compostables
Waste
1 banana peel
reusable containers.
Resources
For more information on waste-free lunches, check out
the following resources:
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/lunch.htm
Provides additional information on packing waste-free
lunches, including a sample letter to send home to
parents and printable versions of the activities on the
back of this poster.
Waste-Free Lunches
www.wastefreelunches.org
Provides information on how to participate in or start a
waste-free lunch program.
Laptop Lunches
www.laptoplunches.com
www.compostingcouncil.org/index.cfm
Totals:
Compare your findings from your lunch before Waste-Free Lunch Day to those you collect on
Waste-Free Lunch Day.
Add It Up!
See how much waste you would avoid if you packed waste-free every day!
After one week, how many waste items would you avoid if you packed waste-free every day?
_____ (Hint, multiply the number of waste items avoided in one day by the number of days you
attend school during the week.)
After one month, how many waste items would you avoid if you packed waste-free every day?
_____ (Hint, multiply the number of waste items avoided during one week by the number of
weeks you attend school during one month.)
After one year, how many waste items would you avoid if you packed waste-free every day?
_____ (Hint, multiply the number of waste items avoided during one month by the number of
months you attend school during one year.)
Wow! You could reduce ______ items of waste in one year if you packed waste-free every day!
Just imagine how many resources you could be conserving!
www.afandpa.org
Shares information, including environmental policies and
recycling initiatives, about forest products such as paper
and wood.
www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/specials/funfacts/school.htm
Recycled/RecyclablePrinted with vegetable oil based inks on 100% postconsumer, process chlorine free recycled paper.
Name: _____________________________________________________________________
Use this worksheet to compare which items in your lunch were reusable, recyclable,
compostable, or waste before and after your Waste-Free Lunch Day. The goal is to have
the majority of the leftover items from your lunch in the first three columns, and have as
few items as possible in the waste column.
Totals:
Recyclables
Compostables
Waste
packaging for cookies,
1 banana peel, 1 soda can
Reusables
Ex. 1 plastic container,
1 plastic baggie from
cookies
Recyclables
1 soda can
Compostables
Waste
1 banana peel
Totals:
Compare your findings from your lunch before Waste-Free Lunch Day to those you collect on
Waste-Free Lunch Day.
Add It Up!
See how much waste you would avoid if you packed waste-free every day!
After one week, how many waste items would you avoid if you packed waste-free every day?
_____ (Hint, multiply the number of waste items avoided in one day by the number of days you
attend school during the week.)
After one month, how many waste items would you avoid if you packed waste-free every day?
_____ (Hint, multiply the number of waste items avoided during one week by the number of
weeks you attend school during one month.)
After one year, how many waste items would you avoid if you packed waste-free every day?
_____ (Hint, multiply the number of waste items avoided during one month by the number of
months you attend school during one year.)
Wow! You could reduce ______ items of waste in one year if you packed waste-free every day!
Just imagine how many resources you could be conserving!
[Insert Date]
Dear Parents,
[Insert School Name]
____________________________________________
is holding a Waste-Free Lunch Day on
[Insert
Date]
______________. On our Waste-Free Lunch Day, students will be asked to bring lunches that
include as many items as possible that can be eaten, reused, recycled, or composted and as few
items as possible that must be thrown away.
You can help your child pack his or her waste-free lunch by including only what your student
can eat, using reusable containers or bags, or buying non-perishable foods in bulk. In planning
your childs waste-free lunch, remember: if you pack any items that need refrigeration make sure
you include a reusable ice pack to keep the items fresh. If your child cannot bring a waste-free
[fill in proper alternative]
lunch from home, ______________________________________________________________.
Dont Include:
Individually wrapped snacks
Plastic baggies that are not reusable
Disposable forks and spoons
Straws
And dont stop after just one day of packing waste-free! Pack your child a waste-free lunch every
day and pack your own waste-free lunch for work.
If you have any questions about the Waste-Free Lunch Day, please contact
[insert name and contact information]
___________________________________________________________.
For more information
on waste-free lunches please visit www.epa.gov/epaoswer/education/lunch.htm.
[Insert School Name]
Thank you for your support, and please help __________________________________________
make today and every day a waste-free lunch day!
[Name of school principal, teacher, or other administrative personnel
Title
School]