Here's My Great Green Idea!

I teach Environmental Education at Watchung Elementary School. I decided to have a "Garbage Contest" to see which grade level could create the least amount of garbage at lunch.

Before the contest I spent many lessons about the problems of creating too much garbage. We learned about recycling, overpackaging, composting, and reducing our garbage. We even did experiments by creating mini landfills. The kids were amazed to see the results! Worms really do eat your garbage!

Some of the fifth graders at our school got together and made a video comparing a "typical school lunch" with an "environmentally friendly lunch". They compared each item with an environmentally friendly alternative. Here are some examples: a juice box vs. a thermos, a sandwich in a plastic baggie vs. a sandwich in a reusable container, a paper napkin vs. a cloth napkin, an individually packaged fruit cup vs. an apple, a plastic spoon vs. a metal spoon.

We emphasized how much garbage a typical lunch makes compared to our environmental alternatives. The environmentally friendly lunches modeled reusable containers and washable items that may be a bit more work, but in the long run are well worth the effort!

We also pointed out how the environmental alternatives like reusable containers and buying in bulk can actually save you money, as well as make less garbage. Before I even knew about this contest, I joked with the kids that their parents would be very interested in saving money and that maybe they could save for something fun, like a trip to Disney!

Often times, prepackaged foods have preservatives and other ingredients that we may not want to have. Instead of buying store made cookies filled with preservatives and things you can't pronounce (never a good sign!), why not bake your own cookies. You can have control over the ingredients, save a lot of money, save garbage and create great tasting goodies. Instead of reaching for the prepackaged fruit containers, have an apple instead!

So, we set the contest date and let students and families know in plenty of time. I sent home notes that explained how to pack an environmentally friendly lunch and the benefits as well.

On the day of the contest, I walked around the cafeteria and marveled on how pleasant it was! So many children with so little garbage! There were many children who brought cloth napkins and real silverware! They were all so proud and excited about the whole concept!

After each lunch period I weighed the garbage and kept track the whole day. The winning grade level was First Grade, with only 10 pounds of garbage, compared to two other grades that had 19 pounds each! The lucky First Graders got special certificates and earned an extra recess period for the week!

This is a green idea that can be implemented anywhere - schools, work place, you name it! My students are so excited about garbage, (or trying to avoid making it!), they are giving me new ideas! We can all make a difference, one step at a time!