Our Earth is being damaged at an alarming rate, now more than ever. Although technological innovations are vital for growth, many often neglect the negative side-effects of this process. Vehicle emissions, toxic waste, carbon emissions, greenhouse gasses; these are all side-effects of human innovations. These day-to-day activities release deadly toxins into the atmosphere and water supply, impacting both humans and wildlife. 

 

We are destroying our environment. Believe it or not, schools are also a major factor in producing waste. One average-sized middle school can create more than 30,000 pounds of waste in just the lunchroom alone in the form of single-use plastics and Styrofoam.

 

I want to create an initiative that can help our school reduce the number of single-use plastics generated in the lunchroom. There are many ways to reduce the amount of plastics used in our school:

 

In the Lunch Room:

 

·      Distribute washable plates and utensils for those purchasing hot lunch.

 

·      Use compostable materials for cutlery such as bamboo spoons/forks, bio-plastic based plates, as well as compostable fiber plates.

 

·      Create separate compost waste bins and dispose properly in an industrial compost facility.

 

Staff/Students who bring lunch:

 

·      Use reusable or washable containers and utensils for those who bring in food from home. This would also include avoiding disposable plastic water bottles, Ziploc bags, etc.

 

·      Bring/buy an appropriate amount of food to avoid wastage.

 

The reduction of plastic not only benefits our school but the overall environment as well. The reduction of single-use plastics even reduces the cost of waste removal, energy consumption, trash generation, and greenhouse gas emissions. I believe that it is important for our school to set a precedent that other schools and institutions can follow as an example to be more environmentally friendly. I understand a project of this magnitude will require a large budget, which I am happy to help fundraise for. Sign this petition to help our school become greener.

 

-Arjaa Raghu