Zero-Waste School Events Infographic Sources
Sources and Calculations for Zero-Waste School Events Infographic
1. Overview of Schools and Events
Total number of schools in U.S.: (https://www.edreform.com/2012/04/k-12-facts/) 132,183
Number of people at a school event: 250
Number of events/school/year: 2
Total number of people at all events at all schools in one year: 66 million
2. Waste at School Events
Food - 0.25 pounds plate waste per person x 250 people/event x 2 events x 132,183 schools = 16.5 million pounds food waste for all school events (http://wmich.edu/sites/default/files/attachments/ENVS 4100 Final Project Report - Merrow, Penzien, Dubats.pdf)
Paper Plates - weight of 1,000 paper plates is 18 pounds or 9 pounds for 500 plates (for 500 people at 2 school events). 9 pounds x 132,183 schools = 1.19 million pounds paper plates
Utensils - weight of 1 box of 500 solo plastic forks is 5 pounds to serve 500 people (for 250 people at 2 school events). total weight of forks for all schools to have 2 events = 660,915 pounds
Water Bottles - Avg weight of 1 empty water bottle - 20 grams. For250 people to have water bottles = 5 kg or 11 pounds. For all schools to have 2 events per year = 2.9 million pounds of plastic water bottles (https://www.quora.com/Approximately-how-many-empty-500-ml-plastic-water-bottles-does-it-take-to-make-one-pound)
Food 16.5 million pounds
Plastic forks 660,915 pounds
Plastic water bottles 2.9 million pounds
Paper plates 1.19 million pounds
Total = 21.3 million pounds for all schools to have 2 events per year with 250 people each
1 event with 250 people creates 80.5 pounds of waste
3. Waste Statistics
A. Food Waste
https://www.nrdc.org/resources/wasted-how-america-losing-40-percent-its-food-farm-fork-landfill
http://www.endfoodwastenow.org/index.php/issues/issues-schools
B. Drinks
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/370772981793212225/
http://www.reuseit.com/blog/Disposable-Lunch-Facts/
http://www.ecokaren.com/comparing-reusable-bottles-stainless-steel-glass-plastic/
C. Cups & Plates
http://www.thebetacup.com/about/
D. Utensils
http://www.wholefoodsmagazine.com/blog/ending-take-out-waste/
4. Americans Throw Enough Away to Circle the Earth 300 Times
http://www.reuseit.com/blog/Disposable-Lunch-Facts/
5. Zero-Waste School Events Save
Avoid 1 Pound of Plastics - 2.51 pounds CO2 per 1 pound of polystyrene
https://sites.google.com/a/pvlearners.net/sustainability/a-life-cycle-analysis-a-plastic-fork
Avoid 4 Paper Cups - http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/responsible-living/blogs/infographic-why-reuse-a-cup
Avoid 1 pound of food waste - http://www.endfoodwastenow.org/index.php/resources/facts
Aluminum Can - http://www.worldwatch.org/system/files/Beverages.pdf
6. Minnetonka Middle Schools Success Story
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/living-green/case-study-schools-move-reusable-utensils
7. Zero-Waste Event Carbon Savings
1 zero-waste school event can save 181.25 pounds of CO2
Carbon equivalencies calculator used to determine the car miles avoided equivalent to carbon dioxide emissions: https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator
If all 132,000 schools held zero-waste events 2 times per year, 181.25 x 132,000 = 47.85 million pounds of CO2
Emissions equivalent to driving 51.677 million miles, or 2,153 times around the Earth.