Schools across the United States had an opportunity to turn the issue of waste into a positive, student-led action Nov. 8.
Plastic Free Lunch Day encourages reduction and elimination of single-use plastics at school cafeterias. School cafeterias serve over 7 billion meals per year, many using single-use plastics. Single-use plastics such as utensils and straws are usually not accepted in recycling programs because they’re typically too small to be captured by recycling facility equipment. These types of items can end up in a landfill, waste combustion facility, or become litter in the environment. Plastic does not readily biodegrade and can also break into tiny pieces called microplastics that could end up in water, soil, and air. Scientists have even found traces of microplastics in the human body.
Plastic Free Lunch Day doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing, and you can also start your school’s plastic-free journey any time. There are many ways to participate and promote plastic free initiatives:
Show the film: teachers can inspire students by hosting a free screening of the award-winning film, Microplastic Madness! The film is free for K-12 schools Oct. 1- Nov. 30. Public school teachers, administrators, school food service directors, school representatives, and college students can request a link to the film.
Plan: do an easy single-use plastic search in your cafeteria with a follow-up lesson plan. Identify areas where single-use plastics could be reduced.
Promote: Share the plastic free lunch day celebration video.
Reduce one or more single-use plastic items at lunch for one day.
Skip the stuff: On one day, dispense plastic items such as utensils or condiment packets by request only instead of automatically.
Want to take things a step further? Look at all single-use and disposable items in your cafeteria, no matter what material they’re made of and work towards reduction and reuse wherever possible.
Think ahead: Plan for Plastic Free Lunch Day in April 2024.
Continue the momentum: The action doesn’t have to stop after one day! Keep building momentum and thinking of positive ways to encourage student led action at your school.
Can’t participate this November? You can work on making small, positive changes year round, and think about a plastic-free plan at the official Plastic Free Lunch Day website.
Collectively, United States school cafeterias have the potential to significantly reduce plastic waste and plastic pollution. New York state is also working to reduce problematic plastic waste and litter through efforts such as:
• New York state’s Bag Waste Reduction Law;
• Expanded Polystyrene Foam Container and Polystyrene Loose Fill Packaging Ban;
• New York’s Returnable Container Act that has reduced roadside litter by 70%; and
Funding microplastics research in New York state though the New York State Center for Plastics Recycling, Research, and Innovation at the University at Buffalo.
