By Melissa Zietz

Did you know that if you use a disposable sack lunch, you create between 4–8 ounces of garbage every day?  From the brown bag, to the baggies, snack wrappers, juice boxes or water bottles, this kind of lunch sends excess material to landfills.  One person’s lunch waste can add up to 100 pounds of trash per year!

On the other hand, a waste-free lunch means that you have no packaging to throw away when you’re done.  The end result is money saved, resources conserved, pollution reduced, and landfill space preserved.

Packing a waste-free lunch may initially take a bit more time and creativity, but given the environmental benefits, it’s well worth the extra effort.  You’ll also save money in the long run, by no longer having to re-supply your cabinets with throwaway lunch supplies.

Here are some tips for making it work:

Get a Sandwich Container

The centerpiece to a standard lunchtime fare is the sandwich. Instead of using a baggie, try a reusable sandwich container.  They’re available at most grocery stores and big box stores. If you must use a disposable plastic bag wash it out and keep reusing it – they are good until holes appear!

Ditch individually packaged yogurt, applesauce, fruit cups, etc.

Individual servings may seem handy, but their true, long-term cost is far too high. For a waste-free lunch, simply buy a larger container and scoop a single serving into – you guessed it – a reusable container. Check out pristineplanet.com for stainless steel food containers or use Tupperware-type containers or empty margarine tubs.

Buy in Bulk

Most nuts, granola, cereal and candy are available in bulk.  You can keep a large container on hand at home and place individual portions into reusable containers. Try dividing up the whole bag into single servings when unloading groceries. That way, there is a whole stock to choose from during the morning rush. Grab and go!

Bring a Thermos

I love juice boxes for their ease and portability, but those things take generations to decompose!  If you love them, too, try keeping some in the car for emergencies, but switch to a thermos or stainless steel bottle for lunches.

Reuse forks, spoons and napkins

Instead of throwing away plastic forks and spoons and a paper napkin each day, try switching to real silverware and cloth napkins.  If that seems like a stretch, use the plastic ware, but just wash it and use it over and over.

Pack lunches the night before and store them in the refrigerator overnight.  This really helps with the morning chaos and also means that even a last minute emergency won’t mess up your plans, forcing you to buy lunch out.

Maximize leftovers. Prepare extra servings at dinnertime for the next day’s lunches. Pack the leftovers in lunchboxes in the evening when you’re doing your regular dinner clean up.

Write your last name on all your containers when packing your lunch.  That way, you’ll be able to find any runaway items in the lost and found box at school or work.

If all this isn’t enough to convince you, here are some stunning lunch waste facts from the Environmental Forum of Marin, California:       

·    Food debris in a landfill decomposes only 25% in the first 15 years (if you compost, bring the banana and orange peels home for the compost bin!).

·    Most inorganic trash retains its weight, volume, and form for at least four decades.  Those juice boxes really stick around!

·    It is estimated that 17 trees are cut down for every ton of non-recycled paper (think paper napkins).

·    U.S. citizens discard 2-1/2 million plastic bottles EVERY HOUR.

This does not have to be a huge undertaking. Even making one small change (refilling a reusable bottle instead of throwaways, for example) makes a huge impact over time. My best advice for moving into a waste free lunch routine is to start where you are, use what you have and do what you can (Arthur Ashe’s wisdom, not mine)!  Even the smallest steps will make a huge difference to our planet over time.

RESOURCES:

· www.veganlunchbox.com  Even if you’re not vegan, honest! Great ideas, products & recipes.

· www.laptoplunches.com We have a couple of these lunch boxes, and they are great. Big enough for an adult lunch, too, and kids get into how fun they are to pack.

· www.cute2carry.com/blog/2008/08/29/testing-out-a-sandwich-wrap-mat/ Crafty? Like to sew? Make your own sandwich wraps! My friend, Laura,  said they were easy to make and work like a charm.

· www.reusablebags.com Great source for stainless steel water bottles, snack bags, & reusable lunch accessories of all kinds

· www.amazon.com/Complete-Tightwad-Gazette-Amy-Dacyczyn/dp/0375752250 Great ideas for lunches!  Also an all-around classic for frugal living, which very often is naturally low-impact.