Oak Hills Zero-Waste Lunch

Oak Hills Elementary School in Ventura County has an aggressive lunch waste reduction goal--zero waste generation! Several years ago the school introduced the "zero waste policy" during lunch and snack times and it has been going strong ever since. This program could also be implemented throughout the school district, inviting competition between schools with recognition during Earth Week.

The Oak Hills policy contains the following rules:

• Students who bring lunch or snacks to school will use only reusable containers or sacks.
• All food in this container will be packaged in reusable containers.
• Napkins must be cloth and reusable--no paper.
• Students will not bring food to school that is packaged. Parents are encouraged to purchase food in larger quantities and then use reusable containers to send it to school.
• Drinks must be in reusable containers or recyclable containers.
• Acceptable recyclable containers include plastic with a recycling code of 1 or 2 on the bottom or aluminum cans.
• No Glass. The preferable method is to send drinks to school in a thermos or other container.
• No straws are allowed.
• Small box drink containers are prohibited.

Student service workers monitor recycling containers daily. They also remind younger students not to throw away reusable containers. Students will throw nothing away!

Since the implementation of the zero waste policy, along with other waste reduction activities, Oak Hills school has reduced the volume of trash from eight 55-gallon cans down to one. Nearly 90 percent! Besides reducing waste and eating healthier foods, the students have found another positive benefit of the new rules. Less time spent cleaning up the trash means more recess time!

For more information about the Oak Hills School program call (818) 707-4224.

The entire article can be viewed in the spring 1995 issue of the CIWMB's Reusable School News.

Food Service/Cafeteria Home

Last updated: September 18, 2008