School Reduce Programs

How do schools practice reduce? Here are some of the ideas and activities we have seen in school Green Ribbon applications:

  • Encourage school-wide practice of double-sided printing, copying and student work.
  • Post signs to remind students and staff to reduce paper use by using both sides of a paper.
  • Use smaller garbage containers at lunch time to emphasize the need for reducing garbage and sorting materials that can be recycled and composted into the blue and green containers.
  • Conduct lunchtime demonstrations to show how much food and lunch packaging has been going into the garbage which should have been sorted into the recycling and compost containers.
Schools Reduce Reusable Containers_2021-03-23

  • Coordinate a waste-free lunch day where students and teachers pack food only in reusable containers; wastefreelunches.org has tips.
  • Assembly presentations on waste-free lunches by student council (or other group).
  • Set up a sharing table or box during lunch where students can place their unopened or uneaten foods for other students to take instead of good food getting discarded. Visit this USDA web page for more on sharing.
  • Have students write a letter to a manufacturer to request a reduction in packaging or to take back non-recyclable or difficult-to-recycle products at end of life. To learn more about products that could be designed better visit the California Product Stewardship Council.
  • Swap disposable products in the staff break room with reusable ware (mugs, dishes, utensils, etc.) and use refillable containers for sugar, salt, pepper, etc.
Schools Reduce Gleaning_2021-03-23

  • Participate in CVSan’s tree fruit gleaning events to save food for those in need.
  • Share food waste reduction resources from CVSan's website.
  • Promote FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease) awareness with assignments, classroom activities and surveys about FOG.
  • Give weekly announcements over the loudspeaker or email rather than printing handouts.
  • Use reusable containers (instead of disposable bags) for experiments, crafts and other activities.
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  • Food Share and Food Donation Flyer
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