--- title: What a load of rubbish! description: fuel for success brain boosting foods image: https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/hubfs/Canva%20images/Canva%20Design%20DAHMbCtnevA.png --- [Skip to content](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/what-a-load-of-rubbish#main-content) [![BSY_PRI_RGB](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/BSY_PRI_RGB.png?width=1219&height=258&name=BSY_PRI_RGB.png "BSY_PRI_RGB")](http://www.bodysaysyay.com.au) - [Contact](https://bodysaysyay.com.au/#kat-PuDjNKCy8yrrJfUS) - [Health Education](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/tag/health-education) # What a load of rubbish! ![what a load of rubbish](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/hubfs/Canva%20images/Canva%20Design%20DAHMbCtnevA.png) - June 13, 2026 ![Suzanne Burke](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/hubfs/circle%20portrait2%202.png) [Suzanne Burke](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/author/suzanne-burke) ## 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.   > Did you know the **average Australian school lunchbox contains up to 30 pieces of single-use packaging each week**? > (Source: [Planet Ark](https://recyclingnearyou.com.au/nationalrecyclingweek/?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8OaMs-Kw1ZR27c8NwRyhmf0HfNM-pOdsKYO_Ws_soYVZeYvgXlM1cRvzD8Atk0z1p8pxF7)) 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 Cause We 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.   > ###### **The average classroom can generate around 200 litres of lunchbox waste every term.** That's a lot of wrappers!!! Below is a snapshot from an average Sydney school's food and waste report. | | --- | | ![](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Average%20Sydney%20Public%20School.png?upscale=true&upscale=true&width=560&name=Average%20Sydney%20Public%20School.png) | | --- | | #### **Simple swaps can make a big difference** - Pack fruit instead of individually wrapped snacks - Swap single-serve snacks for bulk packs in reusable containers - Use a reusable tub for yoghurt, instead of buying pouches - Choose refillable drink bottles instead of juice poppers - Use beeswax wraps, silicon pouches or containers instead of cling wrap - Encourage kids to bring home any leftovers for composting - Include more foods grown in nature and fewer foods wrapped in plastic #### **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 🗑️ | | --- | Blog Post ## Related Articles [![](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/hubfs/Canva%20images/Canva%20Design%20DAHIe78Atl8.png)](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/how-schools-talk-about-food-shapes-kids-more-than-we-think) [Health Education](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/tag/health-education) ### [How schools talk about food shapes kids more than we think](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/how-schools-talk-about-food-shapes-kids-more-than-we-think) May 2, 2026 How Schools Talk About Food Matters More Than We Think A few weeks into term, lunchboxes are packed, routines are back,... [Read more](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/how-schools-talk-about-food-shapes-kids-more-than-we-think) [![](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/hubfs/Canva%20images/Canva%20Design%20DAHMWEzdBQc.png)](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/brain-boosting-food) [Nutrition](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/tag/nutrition) ### [Brain boosting food](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/brain-boosting-food) June 12, 2026 Brain-boosting food to support our 'second gut' – our brain I'd like to share a little story about my son before his... [Read more](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/brain-boosting-food) [![](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/hubfs/Canva%20images/Canva%20Design%20DAHU-P-9owY.png)](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/the-real-cost-of-convenience) [Nutrition Science](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/tag/nutrition-science) ### [The real cost of convenience](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/the-real-cost-of-convenience) September 12, 2026 Ultra-processed food: 4 things to look for when you're shopping If you've been following the conversation around... [Read more](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks/the-real-cost-of-convenience) [Check all articles](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks) NEWSLETTER ### Join my mailing list Weekly tips, recipes and the latest nutrition science to help your family stay healthy and care for our planet. Plus you'll get a copy of my Nutritious Lunchboxes for School e-book for FREE [Sign up](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/en-au/lunchboxes-ebook) ### And if lunchboxes feel overwhelming… Check out **The Root Cause Lunchbox Reset,** simplifing lunchboxes, reducing ultra-processed foods, and empowering kids to get involved. **👉 Learn more about the Lunchbox Reset [here](https://therootcause.com.au/lbr/#join)** No guilt. No perfection. Just practical support 💛 Use code: 'SGBR' and get Breakfast Reset for FREE [![BSY_PRI_RGB](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/BSY_PRI_RGB.png?width=200&height=42&name=BSY_PRI_RGB.png "BSY_PRI_RGB")](http://www.bodysaysyay.com.au) # Helping you to make  better choices for the health of your family & our planet. ### Pages - [Home](https://bodysaysyay.com.au/) - [About](https://bodysaysyay.com.au/about) - [Services](https://bodysaysyay.com.au/#kat-OczPcRPqnNE2Ds6T) - [Blog](https://marketing.bodysaysyay.com.au/tips-tricks) - [Contact](https://bodysaysyay.com.au/#kat-PuDjNKCy8yrrJfUS) --- - body says yay! © 2026. 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