Weekly Green Audit: School Cafeteria
This week we’re talking about green auditing our schools. The lunchroom is a big part of this audit, because there are plenty of cafeteria areas that can usually be made more sustainable.
Our old green audit about your kitchen food pantry is a good place to start. Many of the questions you asked about your own home pantry can relate to your school, just on a grander scale.
Besides issues discussed in the pantry audit you’ll also want to look at…
Is the packaging used during lunch recycled?
Are students, teachers, and staff encouraged to recycle?
Are recycling bins located in various spots (near exits and trash cans are good placement) and are the bins clearly marked?
Does your cafeteria serve organic foods or is everything traditional? Note, if you’re going to argue that your school can’t afford organic foods over traditional, you better make sure your school is free and clear of Taco Bell in the lunchroom, vending machines, after school shops that sell candy, paper towels, and other frivolous items that aren’t necessary, or I’m just going to argue to get rid of those things.
What kind of utensils and other eating items are used? Paper plates? Plastics? Loads of non-recyclable paper napkins? Styrofoam (gasp).
Are leftovers being thrown in a compost for a school garden? Do kids, teachers, and staff at your school even know how to compost?
Do people who bring their lunch know how to pack a sustainable lunch? Are they bringing a new paper sack each day?
Are real lights used or does your school utilize windows or alternative green lighting to light the usually huge lunchroom?
What other things should you be looking at in the lunchroom?
How to start creating change in the cafeteria:
Get styrofoam out of your school cafeteria
Green Food in the School Cafeteria
Developing a school cafeteria-recycling program
Some barriers to the organic school lunch
And some ideas to help get organic lunches at your school
How does your school stack up?
I want that lunchbox.
Because of a lot of new restrictions on the school lunches here due to meat issues, we are going to begin packing lunches for our child.