Waste Free Lunch Challenge
A Waste Free Lunch is a challenge to everyone to make as little rubbish as they
can from their lunch (including teachers!) It can start off as a competition or a one
off event but it could become a regular activity, perhaps once a week or even
every day!
1. Find out how much a waste a normal lunchtime produces
After lunch on a typical day collect, weigh and record all the waste from
lunchboxes, include litter from the lunch hall, do not include any fruit or
vegetables waste as this can be composted.
For children who had hot dinners collect the leftovers in a separate bucket which
can also be weighed (Do not include the waste from the kitchen as this has not
been wasted by children).
2. Planning the ‘Waste Free’ Lunch
Introduce the concept of a waste free lunch by using a ‘waste full’ lunch that you
brought into school for your own lunch. Use the lunch to illustrate how much
waste can be created from certain items.
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Split class into groups to come up with some ideas of what to included in a
‘waste free’ lunch and what to avoid.
Promote your Waste Free Lunch day within the school, make sure everyone
knows when it is and what to do. Use posters, notice boards and letters/
newsletters home to parents.
Give an assembly to the rest of the school on what a ‘waste free’ lunch is all
about.
If recycling and composting facilities are available make sure that they are in
place before the ‘Waste Free’ lunch takes place.
School trips are also a good opportunity to promote a waste free lunch
challenge, all children are involved including those that would normally have
hot diners.
What to include in a ‘Waste Free’ lunch?
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Pack sandwiches in a reusable container or
kitchen roll/ greaseproof paper that can be
composted
Buy large packets of biscuits, crisps, raisins and
put a few in a reusable container
Eat fruit snacks as leftovers can be composted
Take drinks in a drinks bottle that can be used
again
Use cutlery that can be washed and used again
What to avoid in a ‘Waste Free’ lunch?
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Foil or Clingfilm
Individually packed items i.e. biscuits, fruit,
cheese, chocolate
Drinks in cartons or foil pouches
3. The ‘waste free’ lunch challenge
Hold the ‘waste free’ lunch challenge a week after introducing the idea. After the
‘waste free’ lunch collect, weigh and record all the waste from lunchboxes,
include litter from the lunch hall, do not include any fruit or vegetables waste as
this can be composted. For children who had hot dinners collect the leftovers in a
separate bucket which can also be weighed (Do not include the waste from the
kitchen as this has not been wasted by children). Record how much has been
collected as litter, in rubbish bins, recycling bins and compost bins.
Remember to take photographs that can then be used to promote all the good
work from the ‘waste free’ lunch challenge. Make sure that everyone in the
school (and parents) are aware of how the ‘Waste Free’ lunch challenge went,
maybe by an assembly.
4. Follow up and discussions
 Present the results of the ‘Waste Free’ lunch challenge in assembly
 Present the information gathered in tables and graphs and make sure
everyone in the school (and parents) hears how it went.
 Did the ‘waste free’ lunch challenge make a difference?
 Was there less litter on the day that the ‘waste free’ lunch challenge was
run?
 Using the before figures calculate how much litter and waste could be
prevented in a week, month or school year.
 Did most people eat a healthier lunch on the day that the ‘waste free’ lunch
challenge was run?
 Which cost more? The ‘Waste free’ lunch or the normal lunch?
5. Outcomes
 Pupils will recognise that many snack foods are over packaged
 Pupils will be able to identify items that are suitable for a waste free lunch and
suggest ways of avoiding over packaged items
Example letter to parents
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are organising as waste free lunch on…….……….and would like your help.
On this day please could you help your child to bring a packed lunch with no
packaging or as little as possible.
Tips for preparing a waste free lunch
 Use a reusable container for sandwiches or wrap in kitchen roll / greaseproof
paper ( which can be composted) instead of foil and Clingfilm
 Bring your drink in a reusable bottle rather than cartons or foil pouches
 Yoghurt – buy a large pot and spoon some into a reusable container
 Raisins, biscuits and crisps can be brought in larger packs and a few can be
put in a reusable container
 Use cutlery that can be washed and used again.
 Eat fruit snacks, the leftovers can be composted
 Only take what you can eat – there should be NO Food Thrown Away after
lunch. If someone else makes your packed lunch for you tell them what you
like and don’t like so that they don’t waste time and money putting something
in that you just put in the bin.
I hope that you will be able to help us with this project, by doing so you will be
helping the environment by reducing waste.
Thank you for your support