GRS took a two-pronged approach to celebrating Waste-Free Lunch Day.  First, we wanted to determine how much food andgarbage was actually being thrown away.  Then, we had to raise awareness about how pack a waste-free lunch. These activities were part of a larger effort to raise awareness about reducing waste that goes into landfills!

 

CORE CURRICULUM CONNECTION:

NYS Living Environments Learning Standard 4: Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science. Key Idea 7: Human Decisions and activities have had a profound impact on the physical and living environment.

 

EXECUTION OF EVENTS:

On 10/24 SCS Green Ribbon volunteers assisted elementary and middle school students in diverting food waste from the garbage to buckets so that it can be transported to local pigs for... their dinner.  On 10/25 GRS hosted Waste-Free Lunch Day Challenge!!!! Everyone was challenged to bring a waste-free lunch or snack. We challenged students to pack food in re-useable containers, bring water in non-disposable water bottles, use a cloth napkin, etc, in an effort to produce less waste! Why?? Did you know that globally, human beings produce enough food waste to feed 3 billion people: over 30% of the world's food supply is wasted.

 

 

Later in the day, they weighed all the waste. Over 450 lbs were collected - that is the equivalent to 11 kindergarteners.  (On the bright side, the pigs had a feast that night).  The results were shared with the SCS Adminstration and staff.  Currently, we are brainstorming ways to reduce/compost the food waste in our
cafeterias.