By: Jewel Dickerman
In a bid to reduce plastic waste, the Environmental Club has launched an initiative to provide stainless steel cutlery to teachers at Lakeside. This effort’s mission is to replace the use of disposable plastic cutlery with a more sustainable option.
The students in the club began by researching the impact of plastic pollution. They discovered that single-use plastic cutlery such as forks, knives, and spoons, significantly contribute to environmental degradation, often ending up in landfills or polluting oceans and wildlife habitats. Inspired by these findings, they brainstormed ways to reduce the school’s plastic footprint.
Their solution was to create a sustainable alternative for teachers who bring lunch to school. The Environmental Club worked diligently to design cloth drawstring bags to hold the stainless-steel cutlery. Each bag contains a reusable fork, knife, and spoon, offering an environmentally friendly option that is both practical and durable.
To promote the initiative, the club created an informative poster showcasing the environmental impact of plastic waste and the benefits of reusable cutlery. The poster, along with the cutlery sets, has been on display for the past two Fridays in Lakeside, where teachers can easily access them.
The cutlery sets are free to teachers who commit to using them instead of disposable plastic utensils. By providing this alternative, the Environmental Club and Mrs. Lohner hope to encourage a broader shift toward sustainability within the school community. This initiative is a small but significant step towards reducing plastic waste and promoting eco-friendly practices among educators.
