(Mohawk, NY – April 25, 2011) In celebration of Earth Day 2011, the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority sponsored a “Zero Waste” Lunch Challenge for all public and private K-12 school buildings in Oneida and Herkimer Counties.

The purpose of the “Zero Waste” Lunch Challenge was to demonstrate how students can reduce the amount of waste they produce. Eleven school buildings from Oneida and Herkimer Counties participated in the Challenge. In preparation for the Zero Waste Lunch Challenge, schools educated students about ways to reduce the amount of lunch time waste they produce through holding assemblies for students, classroom presentations, and information displays throughout the school.

Although the Zero Waste Lunch Challenge was only based on one day, many schools practiced over many weeks. In addition, schools are taking actions that were implemented in the cafeteria through participation in the Challenge, and implementing them daily. All of the schools that participated reduced their amount of cafeteria waste by over 50%, and some schools by over 75%.

“It has been amazing to see the significant reduction in cafeteria waste that schools have achieved through their efforts,” said Jamie Tuttle, Authority School Recycling Coordinator. “The “Zero Waste” Lunch Challenge was an opportunity to urge schools to instill daily changes for reducing waste in the cafeteria, and it has been a great success,” continued Tuttle.

The school building with the lowest percentage of lunchtime waste per student on the day of the Challenge was Harry M. Fisher Elementary School of Mohawk, NY. The Authority will award Fisher Elementary School with the grand prize, which will be presentations from the Utica Zoo’s “Zoomobile.”

With 469 students, Fisher Elementary produced an average of 100 pounds of lunchtime waste every day before the Challenge- that equals over 9 tons per school year. On the day of the Challenge, Fisher Elementary School only produced an astonishing 5 pounds of cafeteria waste! Beyond the obvious conservation of materials and landfill space, if this rate were sustained, the school would save over $600.00 annually.

“This is a perfect example of how students can make a huge difference with a few small actions and I look forward to following up with schools in the weeks to come to see the lasting changes that were made through promoting waste reduction awareness,” said Tuttle.

With strong efforts from Principal Colleen Vetere, the student body, parents, custodians, and cafeteria staff, Fisher Elementary made significant impacts on the amount of cafeteria waste produced. Fisher Elementary is continuing to implement waste reduction strategies daily in the cafeteria, such as using reusable silverware and cutting down on the use of non-recyclable plastics.

Students will continue to be reminded of waste reducing strategies to use during lunchtime as well as in other aspects of daily life. The Elementary School’s Green Team, which is made up of about 20 students, promotes Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling on a weekly basis.