As part of a Dolphin initiative looking into environmental issues, Year Six decided to start with their own lunch boxes.

They weighed the waste left in their lunch boxes on a normal day and obtained this result:

Total weight: 1.983 kg of which only 0.867 kg was organic waste suitable for compost.

Although some of the discarded wrappings could be recycled, Year Six thought it would be better not to bring in any wrappings at all and to pack a ‘waste free’ lunch box. Shopping lists were drafted, focusing on buying lunch boxes with compartments, small plastic reusable containers and drink bottles which can be reused. Prices were compared.

Then on Thursday 28 February they organised their Waste Free Lunch, aiming to reduce the non-compostable waste to 0.500 kg.

It was a huge success; they almost halved the total weight of waste produced. In fact, out of 1.140 kg of total waste, a massive 0.860kg was compostable.

Year Six is now working on a presentation to the whole school of their findings and experiences.