Fairbank is a BRONZE certified Eco-school! Help us achieve our goal of becoming more Eco-conscious and friendly.
Boomerang Lunch Program
School lunches are a major source of waste in Ontario – the average student’s lunch generates a total of 30 kilograms of waste per school year. In an effort to engage students in a small environmental initiative that can make a big impact, our school encourages a Boomerang Lunch Program.
Once a student has eaten their lunch, they are expected to place all garbage, recyclable and/or reusable items back into their lunch bag, so that they may dispose of their waste properly at home.
The goal of having a waste free lunch is to:
Celebrate and learn about waste reduction by reducing the amount of waste we create from school lunches
Reduce the cost of waste disposal so the school’s resources can be put to better use
Encourage healthy and nutritious lunches (many pre-packaged lunch items contain significant amounts of sodium, preservatives and fat)
Help you as a parent to reduce the cost of lunches (a waste free lunch can cost as little as $2.50 per day, whereas a regular lunch containing pre-packaged items can cost $4.50 or more per day)
Here are some waste-free lunch packing tips:
| YES Please |
Please AVOID |
| REUSABLE lunch carrier |
AVOID paper or plastic bags |
| REUSABLE container (Tupperware, plastic) |
AVOID plastic wrap, foil, wax, or styrofoam |
| REUSABLE drink bottle or thermos |
AVOID single-use cans, bottles, or cartons |
| CLOTH NAPKIN to wash and re-use |
AVOID paper napkins |
| CUTLERY/SILVERWARE to wash and re-use |
AVOID plastic forks/spoons |
| HEALTHY snacks! |
AVOID over-packaged snacks |
BOOMERANG LUNCH TIPS
Get children to help pack their lunches with healthy foods
Only pack as much food as your child will eat.
Use a reusable lunch bag/box for carrying a lunch.
Use a refillable bottle for drinks – it’s cheaper and children can save drinks for later. Avoid drinks in packaging that cannot be resealed. After a few sips, drinks are often discarded. Use a thermos for cold drinks or hot soups.
Put sandwiches, muffins, etc. in ‘Tupperware’-style containers, instead of plastic bags. Label all containers so they have a better chance of coming home.
Avoid pre-packaged, single-serve portions of snacks or drinks.
Prepare extra food at dinnertime and use the leftovers for lunches. Minimize the morning rush by packing lunches the night before and refrigerating overnight.
Thank you for your support in making Fairbank Public School a more Eco-friendly environment for our students.