Schools

Competition Challenges Local Schools to Reduce Lunchtime Waste

Local non-profit Grades of Green starts its third year of the "Trash Free Lunch Challenge."

The Los Angeles non-profit group Grades of Green is currently accepting applications from local schools for its third-annual "Trash Free Lunch" Challenge.

The competition, open to all schools in Los Angeles County, challenges students and their schools to reduce the amount of trash they throw away during lunchtime activities. By doing so, the organization hopes to divert thousands of bags of trash from landfills while also saving schools money.

"In order to win the Challenge, a school must demonstrate significant waste reduction through inspiring and empowering kids to be a part of the change," Grades of Green wrote on its website. "All students, including those who buy lunch, will learn how to pack a trash free lunch and sort their waste into different bins, such as landfill, recycle, liquids and ideally compost."

Accoding to Grades of Green, last year's participating schools helped divert more than 19,000 bags of trash from local landfills with the average school reducing its waste by 50-80 percent.

Last year, Lunada Bay Elementary in Palos Verdees won the challenge and received a $1,000 grant from Chevron.

Anyone interested in participating in this years program, or who knows of a school that would be interested, can contact Program Manager Nicole Sevier at Nicole@gradesofgreen.org or visit the Trash Free Lunch Challenge website.

The first 14 schools to register for the 2013-2014 school year before Aug. 30 will receive an "eco starter kit" worth more than $2,500.



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