Ottawa Schools Shift to Litterless Lunches as Recycling Service Ends

Ottawa families will need to adapt as all four school boards will no longer offer blue bin recycling for plastics, glass, and metal starting in September 2023. The Ottawa Catholic School Board announced that the contractor responsible for this service decided not to renew its contract, leaving no replacement in place.

Sharlene Hunter, a spokesperson for the Ottawa Catholic School Board, confirmed that while paper and mixed fibre recycling will continue, the cancellation affects a significant part of the schools’ waste management efforts. “In the meantime, our schools will encourage families to help reduce waste by using reusable containers, packing litterless or ‘boomerang’ lunches, and having students bring recyclable items back home for proper disposal in their household blue bins,” Hunter stated.

Understanding Boomerang Lunches

Boomerang lunches are an initiative where students return any food scraps and packaging back home rather than disposing of them at school. This practice has long been part of environmental campaigns within schools, aiming to reduce waste sent to landfills. These lunches promote sustainability by encouraging the use of reusable containers instead of single-use plastic bags, as well as the inclusion of drinks in reusable bottles and washable utensils.

Several schools in the area have started preparing families for this change in their back-to-school communications. A message from Kars on the Rideau Public School explained that the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) previously relied on a private vendor for blue bin recycling, a service not provided by the City of Ottawa. The school urged families to pack litterless lunches and to send their children with a small bag for any recycling generated during the school day.

Impact on School Programs

The transition to litterless lunches will also affect specific school programs. At Knoxdale Public School, which does not have a composting initiative, officials announced that the milk program will not be offered this year, eliminating approximately 150 individual milk containers from being discarded each day.

Despite the challenges, Hunter expressed optimism about the future. “We remain hopeful that a recycling service for plastics, glass, and metal can be reinstated,” she said. As families prepare for the upcoming school year, the emphasis on sustainability and waste reduction will play a critical role in shaping the educational experience for students across Ottawa.

The shift to litterless lunches reflects a broader commitment to environmental responsibility within the community, as parents and educators work together to implement practices that promote sustainability.