Working creatively with youth to achieve zero waste, climate-smart communities and a plastic free biosphere.
Cafeteria Culture
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Resource Library 
Short  Info-briefs, reports and videos to accelerate plastic-free policy change!
​

Cafeteria Culture Reports

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Learn about the 2 plastic pathways that harm.
July, 2022, 2-page PDF with references ->

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​Why Plastic Cannot Be Recycled

May, 2022, 1-page PDF with references ->

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10,000 Chemicals in Plastic:
​A Sample

Plastic producers add more than 10,000 synthetic chemicals to plastic polymers to make
products.
May, 2022, 1-page PDF with references ->

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Plastic Free Lunch Day (PFLD) Cost Savings
School Cafeteria Cost-Savings
​from Plastic-Reducing Food Service Adaptations

August, 2022, 3-page PDF with references ->


​​This case study examines cost savings that can result from three PFLD food service changes:
  • serving unwrapped sandwiches from bulk containers covered with aluminum foil versus serving individually plastic-wrapped sandwiches;
  • serving sauces/condiments on student plates or from bulk dispensers versus pre-packaged individual-serving-sized packets or cups;
  • providing utensils by request instead of providing utensils automatically with each meal.


COVID & PLASTIC FOODWARE
Why Grab and Go Food Dispensing Methods
do not Prevent COVID-19 Transmission
​
April, 2022, 1-page PDF with references ->


New!
Reusable Dishware: Calculate Cost Savings
Cost of Dishware: Disposables v. Reusables
Use our handy methodology to calculate the cost of disposables for each lunch served, the cost of disposables per day for all students,  the cost of disposables per month & per year for all students, then factor in dishwashing and labor costs and determine how long it will take to recoup the cost of reusables.


Presentations and Podcasts
Plastic threats to human health

Jenny Davies, MD MPH JD, Public and Environmental Health Director, Cafeteria Culture
​-- Presentation to Manhattan & Brooklyn Solid Waste Advisory Boards, NYC July 26, 2022


 ​Greenstreet Radio podcast
​
Dr Jenny Davies, MD MPH JD,
"Plastic is Poison"


On this edition of Green Street, Patti and Doug speak with Dr. Jenny Davies, physician, attorney, and Public and Environmental Health Director for non-profit Cafeteria Culture about the chemical toxins in plastic and how they are impacting our health and safety.

See: Cafeteria Culture's Zero Waste/Climate
Educational Resources for Educators:
​toolkits, lesson plans, activities->
​
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Reports from other organizations:
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Ditching Disposables:
A Toolkit for Healthier Foodware
​in K-12 Schools

Children's Environmental Health,  MAY 24, 2021
​A 
toolkit is designed to help your school make the transition from harmful single-use food service ware (FSW) to healthier, more sustainable alternatives.

12-page PDF ->

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How Plastics Poison the Circular Economy
IPEN Report, February, 2022

Executive Summary, 10-pages->

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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 charitable organization.
Founded in 2009 as Styrofoam Out of Schools.
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