Resources for Schools

First…”Why should we switch to reusable food ware?”
Plastic leaches toxins into our food and our bodies. Many single-use “compostable” alternatives contain PFAS, which has been shown to harm hormone and thyroid function and sperm production. Most of the PFAS-free compostable products do not end up in industrial composting facilities, and thus do not biodegrade on short timelines. Regardless of the material used, single-use disposable food ware is not sustainable for Earth’s population and natural resources. But the biggest reason you should do this? YOU WILL SAVE MONEY, even after accounting for increased costs for labor, water, and electricity. Don’t believe us? Apply for a subsidy from us, and we’ll prove it to you.

“Okay. But how do we do it?”
• Apply for a subsidy from us.

• Trying to convince your K-12 school to go plastic-free? Help yourself to our folder of goodies: School Pitch Deck, one-page School flyer, PFR logos, etc.

• Need advice on how to get your K-12 school started? Check out this great starter kit from our friends at Cafeteria Culture.

• Trying to convince your college to go plastic-free? Connect with Usefull.

• Explore the ”Ditching Disposables” school toolkit created by Center for Environmental Health.

• Download the “Switching to Reuse for Onsite Dining in Foodservice” guide created by Upstream.

• Download the Reusable Foodware Purchasing Guide created by Rethink Disposable and Surfrider.

• Downlaod the Reusable Foodware Database created by Center for Environmental Health.

• Download the Plastic-Free Campus Manual created by Post-Landfill Action Network.

• Visit the Reuse for Onsite Dining Library from Upstream.

• Watch a townhall on food systems, waste, and best practices in K-12 lunchrooms, presented by CEH.

• Watch a webinar on Labor and Lunch in K-12 schools, presented by CEH.

• Read about best practices for food waste prevention at schools, presented by StopWaste.

• Connect with CafeteriaCulture.org.

• Connect with TheGreenTeam (presented by Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection).

• Find a composting facility near you.

• Find a composting facility based on which types of products are accepted.

• Find a composting pick-up service in your area.

• Download case studies of schools that have SAVED MONEY by switching to reusables even after factoring in increased costs for labor, equipment, and water/electricity usage:
—Palo Alto Unified School District saved $25,000! (case study by Rethink Disposable)
—Bishop O’Dowd High School saved $6,459 per year! (case study by Center for Environmental Health)
—Franklin Elementary School saved $5,780 per year! (case study by Hobart Corporation)