Say no to single use plastics
Let's talk about something that quietly builds up in our schools every single day... lunchbox waste.Most of us think of plastic pollution as something happening somewhere else – a sea of plastic floating in the ocean or rubbish piling up in landfill. But increasingly, we're learning that plastic waste isn't just an environmental issue. It's becoming a human health issue as well.
The World Health Organisation and researchers around the world are raising concerns about the growing presence of micro-plastics in our environment, food supply and even the human body. And it all starts with the everyday choices we often don't think twice about.
That adds up quickly. In a school of 500 students, that's more than 15,000 pieces of packaging every single week from lunchboxes alone. Think juice boxes, yoghurt pouches, muesli bar wrappers, chip packets and plastic snack packaging. Most of it can't be recycled through standard kerbside recycling and ultimately ends up in landfill.
Even school events can contribute significantly. Imagine a school assembly, sports carnival or special event where every child receives a juice popper. That's three pieces of waste per child — the juice box, straw and straw wrapper. Small choices, multiplied across hundreds of students, create a surprisingly large impact.
This is one of the reasons I love the work we do at The Root CauseWe don't just talk about healthy eating. We help students understand the connection between food choices, waste, human health and the health of our planet. Because when children understand why it matters, they're much more likely to work with us rather than against us.
As part of our school incursion, we run a Food & Waste Audit and report back to your school across a number of different areas. The Root Cause has compiled from more than 24,000 lunchboxes across Australian schools, that lunchbox packaging accounts for approximately 30–50% of school rubbish.
That's a lot of wrappers!!! Below is a snapshot from an average Sydney school's food and waste report. |
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Simple swaps can make a big difference
Want to help your school reduce waste?Small changes add up quickly when an entire school community gets involved. Would you like to see your school taking a more proactive approach to healthy eating, food literacy and reducing waste?
I'm working with schools across Sydney and the Northern Beaches to help students understand the connection between food, health and sustainability through engaging, evidence-based education programs. If you'd love to see these conversations happening at your child's school, reach out to me directly or share this with a teacher, wellbeing leader or member of your P&C.
Together, we can create healthier school communities – and a little less rubbish 🗑️ |
