What is the Waste-Free Lunch Challenge?
The Waste-Free Lunch Challenge is an elementary school program developed by the Recycling Council of Ontario in partnership with Metro Ontario Inc and Tetra Pak Canada.
The goal of the program is to help schools decrease the amount of garbage they produce and to educate students, staff and parents about waste reduction.
School lunches are a major source of waste in Ontario with the average student’s lunch generating a total of 30 kilograms of waste per school year, or an average of 8500 kilograms (18,700 lbs) of waste per school per year.
|
|
|
Students from Somerset Dr. P.S. celebrates the launch of the Waste-Free Lunch Challenge at the Peel Integrated Waste Management Facility on Monday 17th October, 2011
|
|
There are two features of the program:
- The Challenge itself, where students commit to bringing a waste-free lunch every day during Waste Reduction Week (October 17-21), and
- A competition where classrooms/schools who register for the program, monitor the waste produced from their lunches on a normal day (prior to the Challenge) and then again each day during the week-long Waste-Free Lunch Challenge. To enter the competition, classrooms/schools are asked to submit an entry form with their results and a brief summary of their experience.
This year, prizes of $1,000 will be awarded to 20 classrooms or schools that successfully reduce the amount of waste generated from their school lunches. In addition, WFLC will be awarding 10 educational experiences and 10 professional waste audits. Prizes will be awarded to classrooms/schools in the following categories:
- Waste-Free Lunch Stars (Top 15 Beginners)
- Waste-Free Lunch Leaders (Top 15 Advanced)
Schools will self-categorize based on their current waste reduction policies and practices. Participating classrooms/schools that submit an entry in the Waste-Free Lunch Challenge will be eligible for gift prizes that will support their waste reduction efforts.
When is the Challenge taking place?
|
|
The Waste-Free Lunch Challenge will be happening from October 17-21, 2011 as part of Waste Reduction Week in Canada. Here are the key dates for your agenda:
August 29, 2011 - Classroom/School registrations open
October 13, 2011 – Registrations close
October 14, 2011 - Pre-Audit
October 17 - 21, 2011 - Waste-Free Lunch Challenge
October 28, 2011 - Entries Close
November 14, 2011 - Winners to be announced
|
Who can participate?
Elementary schools across Ontario are welcome to participate. The RCO encourages everyone to participate in the Waste-Free Lunch Challenge and reduce their ecological footprint. Classrooms/schools may be from public, private, independent or religious schools.
What grades can participate in the 2011 WFLC?
Elementary classes or schools from jk to grade eight are eligible to win prizes.
What do I need to do?
|
Individual classes and schools are challenged to bring a waste-free lunch every day during Waste Reduction Week – 17th to 21st October, 2011 (see our Teacher Resources section for help in planning your challenge). Teachers can register participating classes and schools before or on October 13, 2011.
Registered classrooms/schools are asked to commit to measuring the waste produced from their lunches on a normal day (prior to the Challenge) and then again each day during the Waste-Free Lunch Challenge
To enter the competition, classrooms/schools are asked to submit an entry form with their results and a brief summary of their experience. Prizes will be awarded to classrooms/schools with significant changes in the amount of garbage sent to landfill and those who make a contribution to improving waste management practices across the whole school (only those schools that submit a completed entry form will be eligible for prizes). It’s that easy!
|
|
How do I submit the final result?
Participants will be able to submit their final result online starting October 21st and ending midnight October 28th. The waste audit tool will help determine you final result automatically when you enter the information from your daily audit. However, if you are unable to utilize this tool, we recommend that you print the Waste Audit tool, enter the information and complete calculations manually.
Click here to download the printable version of the Waste Audit tool.
What are the benefits of participating in the WFLC?
The Waste-Free Lunch Challenge is an easy way to inspire your students and school community to implement the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The program also provides opportunities to:
1. Achieve learning outcomes in subject areas including Mathematics, Science and Technology and Social Studies
2. Connect with your local community by involving parents, guardians and community groups in WFLC activities
3. Increase awareness of packaging and waste reduction opportunities in your school
4. Reduce waste generation and potential cost-savings in the long-term
5. Beautify your school by reducing the volume of litter within and around the school grounds
6. Be part of an Ontario-wide environmental initiative and make waste reduction a ‘skill for life’
7. Have a chance to win great prizes
Where can I get more information or ask questions?
The Teacher Resource section on this site includes 2011 program materials and tips to help you plan your waste-free lunch event. These include a sample letter to parents, ideas for how to pack a waste-free lunch, sample PA announcements and other class/school activities, garbage/recycling facts, website links, and suggestions for curriculum connections.
If you have additional questions, you are welcome to get in touch with Catherine Leighton, the Program Manager. Click here for her contact information.
Who is organizing the WFLC?
The Ontario Waste-Free Lunch Challenge is an initiative of the Recycling Council of Ontario in partnership with Metro Ontario Inc and Tetra Pak Canada.
|
|
The Recycling Council of Ontario is a not-for-profit organization committed to minimizing society's impact on the environment by eliminating waste. RCO's mission is to inform and educate all members of society about the generation of waste, the avoidance of waste, the more efficient use of resources and the benefits and/or consequences of these activities. Since its inception in 1978, RCO has actively assisted municipalities, corporations, other organizations and individuals in reducing their waste. For more information about the RCO visit www.rco.on.ca |
|
|
Metro is a Canadian company with annual sales of over $11 billion and over 65,000 employees and is a leader in the food and pharmaceutical sectors in Quebec and Ontario, where it operates a network of more than 600 food stores under several banners including Metro, Metro Plus, Super C and Food Basics, as well as over 250 drugstores mainly under the Brunet, The Pharmacy and Drug Basics banners. For more information about Metro visit www.metro.ca |
 |
Tetra Pak is the world's leading food processing and packaging solutions company. Working closely with its customers and suppliers, it provides safe, innovative and environmentally sound products that each day meet the needs of hundreds of millions of people in more than 170 countries around the world. With almost 22,000 employees based in over 85 countries, Tetra Pak believes in responsible industry leadership and a sustainable approach to business. Its motto, "PROTECTS WHAT'S GOOD(tm)," reflects its vision to make food safe and available, everywhere. For more information about Tetra Pak Canada visit www.tetrapak.ca |
 
|
