CleanScapes Tip: Litterless Lunch

Litterless Lunch

Whether you are packing a lunch for yourself or little ones, this weekday task is a wonderful opportunity to reduce your waste footprint!

By replacing single use bags, containers, plastic utencils, paper napkins and drink containers with ones that can be washed and reused, you will save money and conserve natural resources.

Creating a Litterless Lunch kit is as easy as reassigning a cloth napkin and set of silverware from the kitchen, and purchasing reusable containers and snack bags. If you don't want to upset the balance of household silverware or dinner napkins, and don't want to spend a lot of "green", second hand retailers are well stocked with gently used options.

Reusable bags and containers come in all shapes and sizes, and even the zip-top plastic bags have reusable alternatives.

When ordering lunch to-go, ask the restaurant staff for recyclable or compostable carry-out containers and have your own reusable napkins and utensils ready for action.

Resources: ZeroFootprint Youth Calculator | Reusit.com | Goods for the Planet | Laptop Lunches | Reusies.com

The Big Picture

Waste reduction and prevention is a simple, yet effective strategy for creating sustainable communities and economies, and maintaining a healthy environment.

Everything we do adds up - individually, as a community and as a country: according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, nearly 113,000,000,000 disposable cups, 39,000,000,000 disposable eating utencils, and 29,000,000,000 disposable plates are used in the US every year(1).

By swapping out single-use items for reusables, you help reduce the amount of stuff that has to be thrown away on a daily basis.

Reduce, Reuse and Win! Do you live in Seattle or ShorelineLearn how you can help your community win a community project! Shoreline's 2011/12 Neighborhood Rewards competition is underway! Do you know where your neighborhood ranks? Do you have a great idea or community waste reduction project? Tell us your story! Email the CleanScapes waste reduction team.