How to Make a Trash-Free Lunch

In an effort to reduce waste, Hermosa Beach families can cut down on how much trash is dumped into local landfills by simply monitoring what items are packed into lunchboxes each day.

The Hermosa Beach View-Valley PTO group Grades of Green has been promoting "trash-free Tuesdays" at the two elementary schools, where students are encouraged once a week to bring lunches that don't generate trash.

The group argues that reducing the amount of trash at Hermosa View and Valley schools will not only benefit the local environment but also help reduce trash disposal costs for the Hermosa Beach City School District.

Lunchbox items that are not earth-friendly range from plastic sandwich bags to paper napkins. Here are tips on how to make your own trash-free lunch:

• Use tupperware to pack sandwiches and snacks. The containers, unlike plastic bags, can be washed and re-used.
• Use a cloth napkin that can be washed and used again instead of a paper napkin.
• Use a thermos or reusable water bottles to pack drinks.
• Pack lunches in reusable bags and not throw-away paper bags.
• Encourage your family to pack and bring home leftovers from their lunches to be eaten later as snacks so that food is not wasted.