Trash-free-lunch marathon celebrates America Recycles Day

Posted on Nov 26, 2009

The month of November has been dedicated nationally to the America Recycles campaign, which is supported by the National Recycling Coalition and sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; in particular, November 15 is America Recycles Day. The Lauralton Hall Environmental Club has commemorated this special time for the past eight years by hosting an event that involves a commitment to reduce, reuse, recycle and to buy products made from recycled or sustainable materials.

This year the club celebrated with its sixth annual trash-free-lunch marathon. The event started off with the theme music from Jaws pulsating over the PA system during morning announcements. As the music reached its crescendo, Olivia D’Atri, ’10, president of the Environmental Club, and Bri Perez, ’10, vice president, announced, ”Just when you thought it was safe to go to the cafeteria, TRASH-FREE LUNCH IS BACK!”

During the three days of trash-free lunch students and faculty who brought trash-free lunches to school entered a drawing for raffle prizes. They received a raffle ticket for each of the following: a reusable sandwich container, a cloth napkin, permanent lunch box, flatware and a permanent water bottle.

Club members generously donated more than seventy prizes, so there were many chances for participants to win. Prizes included dozens of colorful, permanent totes with positive messages such as “Peace-Harmony-Unite” and “Trees Please!” Emily Radesca, ’13 donated a tote bag made from 80% post-consumer waste, and Katie Cowden, ’11 donated a beautiful tote made by the men and women of Rwanda. There was a wide array of permanent water bottles - also with positive messages. Taylor Criscuolo, ‘12 donated a bottle with the message “Love-Dream-Hope-Laugh.” Moreover, members donated sustainable school supplies and Burt’s Bees health and beauty aids. Perhaps the prize that motivated the students the most to be “trash-free” was a beautiful clutch purse donated by Briana Archer, ’12. The clutch is intricately designed using soda tabs and lined with a silky material. “The soda-tab clutch looks great with either jeans or a prom dress - it’s that classy!” Donna DiMassa, club moderator pointed out. Another unique prize was a pair of flip-flops made from recycled car tires donated by Cameron Gerrity, ’13.

In addition to individual prizes that members donated, the club as a whole adopted animals through the Sierra Club. For each adoption, the club received a stuffed animal that represents a wild animal whose habitat needs protection. The club, in turn, used the stuffed animals for prizes. The winner of each stuffed animal received information about that animal and its habitat. The club made donations for the following animals: the sea turtle, the manatee, the alligator, the harbor seal, the polar bear, the black bear, the grizzly bear, the mountain lion, the moose, and the wolf. “We all need to be aware that these animals are losing precious habitat; we hope that the stuffed animal prizes will make the recipients more aware of the needs of wildlife,” observed Maria Palacios, ’11.

The entire point of the trash-free lunch marathon is to get students to think about the choices that they make everyday: a reusable container or a throwaway bag. Americans represent only five percent of the world. It’s time to make that lunch trash free!