Zero Waste
Zero Waste Lunch
Making a zero waste lunch saves money and saves waste that goes into landfills...and sometimes our water ways. When you make a zero waste lunch, not only do you ensure a good, healthy lunch, but it can also save you money while saving the environment!
Even recycling containers costs more in time and money and space than producing no waste at all.
Here are some tips to get you started:
- Use a reusable insulated bag or lunch box instead of a new brown paper bag every day. They're back in style and plus they keep your food cooler!
- A reusable ice pack can also be used to keep perishable food items cold. You could even use frozen food items in a reusable container to keep everything else cold as it thaws in time for lunch (like frozen berries – yum!).
- Use reusable containers that can be washed and used over and over again. Those disposable plastic sandwich bags for sandwiches and snacks only add to the landfill and can grow bacteria.
- Use a thermos, reusable jug or reusable water bottle instead of a bottle of soda or a juice box. Our country is doing a lot better at recycling things, but many recyclable items still end up in the landfill or make it into our water ways!
- Use reusable utensils (of any material) instead of plastic utensils that are used once and thrown away.
- Buy in bulk and pack individual servings in reusable containers.
- Use cloth napkins that can be washed and reused instead of using paper napkins or paper towels. You can even make your own - get creative !
All are simple, good for the environment, and save you money. Plus, any leftovers can be fed to the worms or composted!
What more could you ask? For more information on what you can do to reduce waste and about recycling programs, visit CalRecycle at http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov Also,stop by Watch teh slide show at the Daily Green to get even more tips and ideas.
Do you have some other ideas? Send them to us, or post them on our Facebook page, and we'll add them to the list here on this page!