Litter-Free/Waste-Free Lunch Program

Last year, Indian Way School launched its litter-free, waste-free lunch program! We’re committed to creating a more sustainable, eco-friendly environment for our students, our school, and the planet. This initiative offered a wonderful opportunity to grow, work together, and strengthen the home-school partnership. Together, we fostered a caring, responsible attitude toward the environment within our small school and community.    

In Science and Geography, our students studied the world’s natural resources, and they learned that plastics are made from fossil fuels, a non-renewable resource. Almost half of the plastics produced globally are single-use. Only 9% of all plastics ever produced have been recycled. Recycling metal, glass, and paper is efficient, but recycling plastics is not. This should motivate our school community to consider the lasting impact of plastic waste.  

As part of a fun and educational science project, students conducted a compost experiment that showed plastic doesn’t biodegrade. Our students discovered that plastic does not belong in nature, yet so much of the packaging we use ends up there. They buried compostable waste alongside plastic containers in a bin. A year later, they emptied the bin to see what the plastic looked like. Ultimately, it was realized that plastic does not biodegrade or turn into soil. It remains in the ground as a pollutant.   

Students are exploring how plastic and soft drink companies (multinational corporations) are working to prevent laws that would reduce plastic production and help protect the environment. At Indian Way School, we take pride in applying what we learn about plastic to reduce waste. When students pack their food and beverages in reusable containers, they feel responsible and motivated to make a difference.  These actions also support student health—it’s a win-win! 

We invite everyone to join us in reducing litter and waste at our school by choosing environmentally friendly options like stainless-steel containers, reusable utensils, safe reusable containers, thermoses, and water bottles. These choices help reduce plastic waste and support a cleaner, greener school environment.   

Packing lunch in reusable containers instead of disposable plastic bags, aluminum foil, Styrofoam, or single-serving items helps keep the lunchroom and school grounds litter- and waste-free. Show your support by adopting these practices today to help benefit the environment for the next seven generations and make waste reduction a community effort.  

Choosing eco-friendly materials cares for the planet and also fosters pride in our students’ efforts, encouraging them to keep making environmentally responsible choices.  

Benefits of Litterless Lunches 

 1. Major Waste Reduction 

Schools that embrace litterless lunch practices play a key role in reducing landfill waste, benefiting our community and surrounding areas. Family involvement helps us create a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone-together, we can make a real difference!  

• Using reusable containers and “boomerang lunches” (where what students bring to school comes back home) helps reduce or eliminate single-use packaging and keeps food out of school bins and landfills, making a positive difference for the environment. 

2. Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Education 

 Students learn real-world environmental responsibility: 

• Reusing containers reinforces the reduce-reuse-recycle hierarchy more effectively than recycling alone 

• This builds lifelong habits and aligns with broader school sustainability goals. 

• Environmental problems throughout history have been tackled starting with one brave citizen. Through case studies, students explore how ordinary people sounded the alarm about issues like water pollution, pesticides or endangered species. Throughout the year in Science, we study how changes happened when people demanded that the government make better laws and tougher regulations for companies.  

• Through specific examples, we examine how plastic waste could be drastically reduced. There used to be widespread programs in which companies took back and refilled containers, such as beverage containers, and there is momentum to bring these systems back. Biodegradable packaging is also an easy solution in many cases. Students learn that creative solutions are always possible. The world is always changing, and active citizens help decide how.  

 3. Enhanced Food Awareness and Decreased Food Waste 

 With rising food costs, this program offers a great way for families to save money at the checkout and take pride in their role in environmental care. Boomerang lunches also give families a clear view of what their child/children eat and what might go to waste, making it easier to manage and plan meals together, benefiting both the environment and their budget. 

• Parents can adjust portions and ensure less food goes to waste. It’s a simple way to make a positive difference for both the environment and family budgets. 

• Students become more mindful of food choices and waste. 

 4. Fostering Student Engagement and a Positive Outlook on School Lunches 

 At Indian Way School, we have witnessed:  

• Increased student understanding and active participation in this program 

• Improved collaboration and environmental pride 

• Gained a better understanding of their environment by working in the garden and orchard, helping with schoolyard clean-ups, and conducting waste audits.
   

 Family involvement contributed substantially to the program’s success and assisted in fostering a common school-community objective:  

• Eliminating waste  

• Establishing an environmentally conscious school and student environment.  

We are dedicated to sustaining this initiative within our Science and Geography curriculum.  

Alma and Natalie