At the Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies/High Peaks Elementary, 475 students went from creating four trash cans full of sticky plastic bags, half-eaten peanut butter sandwiches and empty milk cartons during lunch hour to making barely enough garbage to fill a suitcase. How did they do it? By competing with six other Boulder schools as part of Eco-Cycle’s Waste-Free Lunch Contest, sponsored by the City of Boulder.

During the Waste-Free Lunch Contest, elementary students were challenged to make as little trash as possible during lunchtime for an entire week, thereby stopping the flow of natural resources from the environment, through cafeterias, and into landfills. This is the second year that schools have significantly reduced their waste as part of this contest. This year’s winning school, BCSIS/High Peaks Elementary, reduced their lunch trash by a whopping 81% (an increase of 26 percentage points over last year’s winner, Mapleton Elementary, who reduced their trash by an impressive 55%). Horizons Alternative School weighed in at second place with a 54% reduction in lunch waste, followed by Community Montessori with a 44% reduction. Foothill Elementary, Douglass Elementary and Bear Creek Elementary also made a significant dent in their school dumpsters.

Students went all out to reduce their waste. In addition to bringing food in reusable or recyclable bags and containers, food was composted, extra recycling bins were available in the lunch rooms, and many devoted students even rinsed milk cartons for recycling. David Mohseni’s 4th grade students at BCSIS/High Peaks literally rolled up their shirt sleeves and dug in, picking any recyclable or compostable item out of the trash can. And according to Mr. Mohseni, the learning is extending beyond the classroom and into students’ homes. He has seen bread bags used again and again to carry lunches to school and delights in hearing students’ stories of how they’ve taught their parents how to reduce, reuse and recycle. We at Eco-Cycle have always known that kids “get it.” It’s the adults that need to be shown.

Each of the seven participating schools was awarded for their efforts with $100 in recycled office products. For achieving the greatest reduction, BCSIS/High Peaks Elementary was awarded an additional $400 in recycled office products.

“This contest is a great opportunity for students to help reduce their school’s trash bill and help the Earth at the same time,” said Cyndra Dietz, Eco-Cycle’s School Recycling & Environmental Education Director. “We hope the reuse and recycling habits that they develop during Waste-Free Lunch week will last far into the future.” Kara Dinhoffer, Recycling Coordinator for the City of Boulder, said, “Educating students about packaging choices and composting, as well as recycling, is crucial to reaching a higher waste reduction level in Boulder.”