When lunch was served at two schools in Georgia’s Gwinnett County School System recently, something was missing. Plasticware, a lunchroom staple for years, was nowhere in sight. Excited students could be seen eating scrumptious and nutritious lunch items sans plastic utensils and served in paper boats, bowls or wrapped in paper. This was a day when eating with hands was encouraged!
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The welcomed change in routine was thanks to Plastic Free Lunch Day, part of a national effort to promote the reduction of plastic use in lunchrooms across the country. Teamwork was on full display as dedicated nutrition staffs at Lilburn Elementary School and Trickum Middle School adjusted their menus to offer items easily packaged without plastic and easily consumed without cutlery. Delectable options including salad, chicken, turkey subs, wraps and assorted fruits and vegetables only added to the celebration of making the planet healthier and greener. The undertaking was an ambitious one, as Lilburn Elementary and Trickum Middle serve more than 1,000 and 1,700 lunches each day, respectively.
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“Our students loved Plastic Free Lunch Day and we are so proud of the work of our amazing cafeteria team and staff,” said Karen Hallford, Director of School Nutrition for Gwinnett County Public Schools. “This pilot program provides us with a blueprint for our larger Earth Day celebration in April as well as future expansion of the program.”
Hallford added that she learned about the Plastic Free Lunch Day initiative through the district’s association with the Urban School Food Alliance and felt compelled to participate as it aligns with the school district’s ongoing efforts to minimize plastic packaging.
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“We not only noticed a positive environmental impact from the waste reduction but also a financial effect as less disposable packaging helped lower our costs for the day,” said Hallford. “What’s also important is that the event raised student awareness about the importance of eco-friendly practices.”
While items such as portioned ketchup packets for students to put the finishing touches on their lunch still require plastic, Hallford and her team are actively training cafeteria staff and working to reduce plastic usage wherever possible.
“We are looking forward to April when more schools will take part in Plastic Free Lunch Day as part of our Earth Day celebrations,” said Hallford. “This is an important undertaking and our staff will continue to work as a team to grow the program in the coming years.”
