A "zero-waste" event is where no waste (or very little waste) is generated. This is done by having everything brought to the event be either reusable, recyclable or compostable.  Greenacres is proud to host all of its events with food – everything from the September back-to-school picnic, November parent/teacher Thanksgiving luncheon, the school-wide multicultural luncheon each March, all of its principal coffees, the 4^th grade colonial luncheon and the 5^th grade graduation - all events! – as zero-waste events!

Zero-Waste Event Protocol For School Events with Food

If you are hosting a school event with food OR are sending out an email to parents for events that will have food, please include the following information in your email AND on-line sign-up.

• Food needs to be brought to the event in either a reusable or recyclable tray/container (such as an aluminum tray)
• All condiments (i.e. dressing, ketchup, mustard, etc.) must be brought in either reusable or recyclable bottles
• Food items that are individually wrapped in plastic or other types of disposable wrappers (e.g. granola bars, candies, condiments, chips, etc.) should NOT be brought. The plastic wrappers tend to get mixed in with food waste and end up in our compost bin, plus they add to waste
• Please Note: wax and parchment paper are compostable. So if parents want to bring baked goods, then they can do so using wax paper or parchment baking cups
• You may use the compostable items in the wall cabinets on the sink side of the small kitchen in the OMPR, which are purchased by the PTA
• There are 2 sizes of plates, bowls, cups & utensils
• Eventually, we will be asking parents and/or committees to purchase these compostable items
• Please substitute all disposable items for reusable or recyclable ones at all events. The school has available for use (in the PTA closet)
• Tablecloths (20 large green and white checked ones)
• Two 3-gallon drink dispensers
• Butter Spreaders
• Serving utensils
• Before an event, a green "BioBag" (compostable bags that we use in the lunchroom) needs to be brought to the class or event location in order to collect food scraps and compostables at the end of an event 
• A box of BioBag are kept in the back of the lunchroom by the piano; please take what you need for your event. If you can not find the bags, then please ask any custodian for one
• At the end of the event, the BioBag:
• needs to be brought to the lunchroom compost bin, or
• contact Charlie Coliskey, or one of the other custodians to let them know that you will have compost bags that need to be picked up
• As a reminder - 
• All food is compostable
• All plates, cups, napkins and utensils, if from the PTA supply in the small kitchen, are compostable. If brought in from the outside, then these items SHOULD BE compostable
• If everything brought to the event is reusable, recyclable or compostable, then it will be a successful "zero-waste" event!
• Have adults/kits drop food waste and compostables in the Compost Bin; place recyclables in the Recycling Bin
• If a classroom does not have a recycling bin (or one large enough for your items), then please use the yellow Recycling Bin in the hallway
• Please make sure that the event's CLEAN-UP volunteers are aware of the protocol and careful about where they throw things out