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plastic free action​s for
High School Students


Start a #SkipTheStuff campaign

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Download the Skip The Stuff NYC Skull (no NYC) poster->
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Download the Skip The Stuff NYC Skull poster->
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Download the Skip The Stuff Incinerator poster->

​
​​Easy Plastic Free Lunch actions
for every day!
NO PLASTIC ______ DAY!
Simplify the day with a focus on reducing just one kind of single-use plastic packaging, such as a:
-  NO PLASTIC STRAW DAY  (more ideas for reducing plastic straws ->)
-  NO CONDIMENT PACKET DAY - ask your school food manager if they can serve condiments in refillable containers or dispensers.

We suggest always starting with a before
 survey (or audit). 
Example: the steps for a "NO PLASTIC STRAW DAY":
 - 1 - Set out a box and sign  to collect all the plastic straws used ruing one lunch period or during all school lunch periods.
 - 2 - Count the straws and photograph all the straws (lay them out on a dark background).
 - 3 - Publicize the number of straws collected on that one day and the date of your NO PLASTIC STRAW DAY" 
 - 4 - On the day of the initiative, once again collect any plastic straws and photograph

 - 5 - Make posters with the 'before" and "after" data and photos 
 - 6 - Interview students and staff to find out what others suggest to do next to reduce single-use plastics and other packaging.
BRING YOUR OWN ______ DAY!
- BRING YOUR OWN FORK (and napkin) DAY
- BRING YOUR CUP or REUSABLE BOTTLE DAY
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From the movie, "Microplastic Madness"
lead a "TAKE ONLY WHAT YOU NEED Day"/ #SkipTheStuff  
-Create a utensil/packet/straw "by request only" action;  meet with your principal and school food manager to ask that these plastic items not be given out automatically.


- Make creative signs to encourage plastic waste reduction or use the flyer provided (above) and place near dispensers.
- Ask teachers to remind students just before lunch.
​- Start a campaign.
- Make announcements!
- Lead a before count of plastic utensils thrown away on a single day, start your campaign, then do an after count. Compare and publicize results.
PROMOTE A REUSE CULTURE - EVERYDAY!
Ask your food service manager to:
-  Offer plastic utensils by request only on days when pizza, burritos, and other hand-held foods are served. Salad bars can be stocked with cut vegetables.
- Serve all condiments and sauces in reusable dispensers or bottles.
- If your meals come packaged with the utensils, ask to try a new method of offering utensils.
- If your utensils and napkins come together in plastic wrap, ask for individual utensils and napkins!

GRATITUDE DAY!
"Thank your kitchen and custodial staff and school cafeteria aides!
- Hang up special "thank you' posters in the cafeteria with staff names.
- Encourage students to say "please" and "thank you" in the food line.
- Make a special "thank you" announcement at the end of the lunch period and invite kitchen and custodial staff to join you!
- Thank kitchen and custodial staff during school assemblies and recognize the work they do for the school community.


Showing gratitude supports positive change-making and builds community!  For inspiration, show our video, "School  Lunch in Japan- it's not just about eating" (34 million views on YouTube!)

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More PLASTIC FREE ACTIONS for school & COmmunity!
  • Hold a fundraiser to buy reusable bottles or utensils for all students.
  • Create an education campaign to promote reduction of single-use plastics and reusables for home and store bought lunches.
  • Create an education campaign focused on reducing a specific single-use plastic item and offer solutions.

  • Conduct a survey of plastic waste or street/beach litter at  school/work/community to inform & persuade. (use our "DIY: DATA +ACTION litter clean up" guide!)
  • Create banners, posters or flyers about single use plastics to inform students, school staff and community to #uselessplastic.
  • Create an art installation or giant puppets using single use plastics as 3 dimensional data to inform & persuade.
  • Perform a theater piece, poetry, or music (on the streets or indoors) to engage new audiences on the plastic pollution issues and reduction.
  • Learn about local/state plastic-reduction bills/proposals and ask to meet with your local and state legislators to inform & persuade. Sharing your data helps! (find some NY and US bills ->)
  • Start planning now for a spring 2023 Plastic Free Lunch Day!
  • Lead  a "Write a Letter to the Editor" campaign or teach a lesson with our guidelines.
  • Write a letter to your principal, school food manager, and school board to request future Plastic Free Lunch Days as regular weekly or monthly menu days! (see our Sample Letter to the  Principal ->)
  • Ask to present to the PTA and school baard.
Educate others:
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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cafeteria Culture (@cafcu)

How to Drive Change In Your School Cafeteria - 
​A Guide for High School Students

adapted from the work of Gauri Rastogi, high school senior and CafCu Youth Advocate and intern, based on her years of advocating to eliminate styrofoam trays from her school district in MIchigan.
Share these info briefs with key decision makers
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New!
Reusable Dishware: Calculate Cost Savings

reports & videos
in our Resource Library
​
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Our VISION
We envision a plastic free, equitable zero waste future where landfill and incinerator garbage as we know it no longer exists;
where post consumption waste from food to packaging is drastically reduced
and what remains benefits our schools, communities, and the environment. 


Cafeteria Culture (CafCu) is a Project of The Fund for the City of New York, a 501(c)(3) organization.
As such, your donations to Cafeteria Culture
are eligible for charitable deductions under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Cafeteria Culture is a vendor of New York City Department of Education via Fund for the City of New York


Copyright © 2023 Cafeteria Culture
  • About
    • About
    • Team
    • Our Story
    • Reports
    • Press
    • Partners
    • Contact
  • MICROPLASTIC MADNESS
    • MICROPLASTIC MADNESS
    • Host a screening
    • The Plastic Pollution Crisis
    • Creative Team and Credits
    • Movie Feedback
  • Plastic Free Lunch
    • Plastic Free Lunch
    • FAQs - Plastic Free Lunch Day
    • PFLD School Food Service
    • Action Plan ideas - PFLD
    • NYC Plastic Free Lunch Days
  • Take Action Toolkits
    • K-12 Toolkit - Plastic Free Lunch Day
    • K-12 Toolkit - Microplastic Madness
    • DIY DATA ACTION litter cleanup >
      • DATA +ACTION litter clean up
      • Student and Teacher Litter Data Collection
    • SORT2SAVE KIT >
      • SORT2SAVE KIT - Cafeteria Rangers
      • Downloads - S2S - Cafeteria Rangers
      • Daily Operations - S2S - Cafeteria Rangers
      • Videos - Cafeteria Rangers
      • S2s Quick Launch Guide
      • Job Descriptions for Cafeteria Rangers
      • SORT2save Cheer! - lyrics + video
      • SORT2SAVE - About, Partners, License Agreement
    • Foam Trays Out of Schools >
      • NYC Foam Ban
      • Trayless Tuesdays
      • No-Styro Puppets
      • FAQs - Getting Styrofoam Out of Schools
    • Alternative Messaging
    • Action at home
    • Action on Policy >
      • Plastic Water Bottle ban NYC
      • NY Bag Bill
  • Donate
  • Youth Advocates Program
  • MORE RESOURCES
    • Resource Library
    • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Taiwan - Lessons Learned
  • Events
  • Latest - Cafeteria Culture blog
  • Volunteer