WHAT DOES A WASTE-FREE LUNCH LOOK LIKE?
A TYPICAL BRITISH LUNCH
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DISPOSABLE
Sandwich sealed in a plastic box
OR
Mixed salad stored in plastic bowls
OR
Pre-packed sausage roll / pasty
Individual mini cheese portions wrapped in plastic
Pre-packed crisps or other savoury snack foods
Pre-packed cereal/chocolate bars, muffin or cake
Pre-packed yoghurt
Disposable drink
Plastic fork and spoon
Paper napkin and plastic bags |
WASTE-FREE
Sandwich or other main dish
Fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and treats stored in a re-usable lunch container.
Stainless-steel fork and spoon
Cloth napkin
Re-usable drink bottle
Re-usable lunchbox |
WHY PACK A WASTE–FREE LUNCH?
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It save you money as a waste-free lunch works out a lot cheaper than buying packaged products (See Spend Less), where money is spent on the packaging.
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It protects the environment by producing less litter, which must either be buried in landfills (Britain is fast running out of landfill sites!) or incinerated.
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By setting up a good example to your children, you are sensitising them to environmental issues and teach them to care and to respect the planet.
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More and more councils are encouraging people to recycle as much as possible.
TO PACK A WASTE-FREE LUNCH, WORK ON A 3 R's POLICY
REDUCE:
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Cut down on packaging and food waste by purchasing fresh produce and bulk bin items and re-using your bags.
RE-USE:
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Pack lunch in re-usable containers
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Avoid plastic bags, cling film, aluminium foil, and pre-packaged foods whenever possible.
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Use a re-fillable drink bottle
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Avoid single-use juice cartons, bottled water, cans and pouches whenever you can.
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Use a cloth napkin and re-usable utensils.
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Eliminate disposable utensils
RECYCLE:
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Search out recycle bins instead of throwing recyclables in the litter.
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If you can’t find a recycle bin at work or school, take your recyclables home.
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Many parts of the country have kerbside recycling collections; depending on where you live you might be able to recycle paper, cardboard, glass, plastic bottles, aluminium foil and cans.
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Buy as much as possible from farmers markets, local companies.
Finally:
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Remember that a compost bin is a fantastic way of helping with nature’s own recycling, and it produces free compost to use in the garden.
Lots of organisations like: RECYCLENOW, WRAP, WASTE WATCH and Environmental Education Centres, deliver useful resources for schools (Waste Education support Programme).
Schools around the world have started to take action by implementing
Educational workshops or 3R activities in the curriculum teaching the children how to reduce waste. All these initiatives should be encouraged and widespread in all schools.
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WASTE LESS
Have you ever thought about how much rubbish is made by children's lunch boxes every day?
Much of the rubbish we generate comes from the packaging on the food we buy, and lunch foods are no exception. In fact, it has been estimated that on average a school-age child using a disposable lunch generates 30Kg of waste per school year. That equates to up to 8.5 tons of lunch waste for just one average-size junior school.
"In London, while recycling rates are showing every sign of climbing, lunchtime still creates a mountain of waste every day, as workers head for the nearest shop, tuck into a pre-packaged meal and dump the litter and left overs in the bin. The environmental cost of lunchtime waste is higher than ever with little infrastructure in place to encourage good recycling behaviour. London alone produces approximately 263 tonnes of waste every lunchtime, enough to fill Trafalgar Square every week"!! Source (www.edie.net)
Did you know?
In 2001 UK households produced the equivalent weight of 245 jumbo jets per week in packaging waste. [Source: Waste Watch]
Every year each person produces 4 times as much packaging waste as his or her luggage allowance on a jumbo jet.
[Source: Waste Watch]
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