AS Calare Public School students bite into their various recess and lunch meals, which weren’t wrapped in cling-wrap, they’ll be doing so to boost the school’s sustainability efforts as part of another No Waste Wednesday.
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The initiative was recently introduced, inspired by statistics that estimate each child produces approximately 30 kilograms of waste per year just from their school lunch.
Calare Stephanie Alexander garden co-ordinator Vicki Bray said there are three parts to the project, called Lifting the lid on lunch and scraps.
She said while teachers wish to eat more food, like fresh fruit and vegetables, the aim is also for them to be packed as “nude food” in reusable containers without plastic bags or aluminium foil or in paper wrap, instead using brown paper recycled bags and eaten using washable cutlery.
The third aim is to use any scraps in the school’s Stephanie Alexander garden.
“It’s about healthy eating, whole food and no waste by bringing nude food containers,” Ms Bray said.
She said scraps collected in special red bins in the playgrounds will feed chickens in the school’s garden and make compost.
“We can’t ask the teachers to count how many pieces of litter the kids bring every day, so we make Wednesday our focus,” she said.
“Once kids get into the habit of bringing in the nude food containers, it’s No Waste Week for them as they’ve developed the pattern.”
There’s a competition between classes to have least amount for the term and No Waste Warriors rewards on offer.
Environment and economic development committee chairman, councillor Neil Jones congratulated the students on taking part in the program.
“We’ve got to start with the children. This will lead to a changing in attitudes to waste and waste management,” Cr Jones said.
ashlea.pritchard@fairfaxmedia.com.au
