Guideline on How to Promote Green Lunch in Schools | ||||||||||||||||||
1. | Target Users | |||||||||||||||||
1.1 | For School Management, please read the following sections: The Problem, Analysis of Meal Arrangements in Schools, Recommendations for School Management and Relevant Information. | |||||||||||||||||
1.2 | For School Lunch Suppliers, please read the following sections: The Problem, Analysis of Meal Arrangements in Schools, Recommendations for School Lunch Suppliers and Relevant Information. | |||||||||||||||||
1.3 | For Disposable Lunch Box Recyclers, please read the following sections: The Problem, Analysis of Meal Arrangements in Schools, Reminders for Disposable Lunch Box Recyclers and Relevant Information. | |||||||||||||||||
1.4 | We hope that other Organizations who have to arrange for or procure group meals on a regular basis may also find this Guideline useful. | |||||||||||||||||
2. | The Problem | |||||||||||||||||
2.1 | The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) conducts on-site landfill survey once a year to monitor the local solid waste composition and publishes its findings in an annual report entitled “Monitoring of Solid Waste in Hong Kong”. At present, solid waste is divided into some 60 categories, of which the “dining wares made of plastic/poly-foam” covers basically all types of disposable food and drink containers and cutlery. In 2008, the volume of such waste we disposed of amounted to about 175 tonnes per day. | |||||||||||||||||
2.2 | Disposable food containers are usually made of non-degradable materials that will stay in earth forever and pollute the environment. To protect our environment, schools can help by drawing up and adopting a suitable green lunch policy based on the principle of “Reducing Pollution and Minimizing Wastage”. This will also provide a good educational opportunity for students to learn first hand about how to protect the environment. | |||||||||||||||||
2.3 | In this Guideline, we will analyze the meal arrangements commonly used in schools and compare their pros and cons from the environmental protection perspective. We will also recommend effective ways to reduce disposable food containers and their associated waste and provide useful information for schools on how to implement such recommendations. | |||||||||||||||||
3. | Analysis of Meal Arrangements in Schools | |||||||||||||||||
3.1 | Meal arrangements in schools can be mainly divided into two types by the containers they used: reusable or disposable containers. Reusable containers mean those are robust and durable enough for repeated washing and reuse. | |||||||||||||||||
3.2 | Meals served in reusable containers may be portioned either on-site or off-site, namely, Central/On-Site Portioning and Off-site Portioning. | |||||||||||||||||
3.2.1 | Central/On-Site Portioning | |||||||||||||||||
Cooked food is delivered by lunch suppliers to schools in bulk, and then re-heated and portioned in-situ for distribution to students. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Points to Consider | ||||||||||||||||||
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3.2.2 | Off-Site Portioning | |||||||||||||||||
Cooked food is prepared and portioned at the kitchens of lunch suppliers and delivered to schools in lunch boxes according to the amount ordered. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Points to Consider | ||||||||||||||||||
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3.3 | Students Bring their Own Lunches | |||||||||||||||||
Lunches are prepared by parents and brought to schools by either students or parents. While some parents may on occasions provide their children with takeaway food contained in disposable boxes, it is apparently not the norm. So it can be assumed that reusable containers are used in most cases. | ||||||||||||||||||
Benefits | ||||||||||||||||||
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3.4 | Any other options that are not covered in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3 above will be regarded as using disposable food containers. Disposable food containers are commonly made of (i) polyfoam/expanded polystyrene (EPS), (ii) polypropylene (PP) or (iii) biodegradable materials. Their respective environmental impacts are discussed below. | |||||||||||||||||
3.4.1 | EPS lunch boxes are non-biodegradable, and difficult, if not impossible, to recycle. As their adverse impacts on the environment are widely known, school lunch suppliers no longer use them for providing meals in schools. | |||||||||||||||||
3.4.2 | PP lunch boxes are widely used as a replacement and are commonly publicized by the trade as “Environmental Friendly” lunch boxes. To determine whether it is really more environmental friendly, we need to understand the characteristics of PP lunch boxes: | |||||||||||||||||
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3.4.3 | Biodegradable boxes are less commonly used by school lunch suppliers. They are usually made of plant fibres or paper. Boxes made of plant fibres are similar to EPS boxes in outlook and performance, but they are biodegradable and are regarded as an environmental friendly alternative for EPS Boxes. However, the disadvantage of such boxes is that their usage is limited. As both types of boxes lack recyclable and reusable value, in term of burden to landfills, they are very much the same. |
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3.5 | From waste reduction perspective, Central/On-Site Portioning is the most desirable option. However, this option requires a lot of space and resources, and may not be suitable for all schools. On the other hand, Off-Site Portioning using reusable containers is much easier to implement. Whichever the options, schools should be mindful of the principle of “Reducing Pollution and Minimizing Wastage” when drawing up a proper environmental policy and a pragmatic implementation plan for meal arrangement. We firmly believe that if schools as the consumers insist on better services in not just quality but also in environmental aspects, lunch suppliers would make an effort to meet both ends. | |||||||||||||||||
3.6 | Last but not the least, if school lunches are supplied in disposable boxes, and particularly if the so-called “Environmentally Friendly” boxes (i.e. PP boxes) are used, schools should be fully alert on whether the used boxes are really recovered for recycling. It would be even better if food waste could be collected for recycling too. | |||||||||||||||||
4. | Recommendations for School Management | |||||||||||||||||
4.1 | Do not Use Disposable Lunch Boxes | |||||||||||||||||
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4.2 | Handle PP Lunch Boxes Properly | |||||||||||||||||
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4.3 | Portion Food in a Flexible Manner | |||||||||||||||||
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4.4 | Do not Use Disposable Cutlery | |||||||||||||||||
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4.5 | Install Necessary Facilities | |||||||||||||||||
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4.6 | Provide Correct and Relevant Information to Students | |||||||||||||||||
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5. | Recommendations for School Lunch Suppliers | |||||||||||||||||
5.1 | Provide More Choices to Schools | |||||||||||||||||
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5.2 | Handle PP Lunch Boxes Properly | |||||||||||||||||
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5.3 | Portion Food in a Flexible Manner | |||||||||||||||||
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5.4 | Provide Reusable Cutlery | |||||||||||||||||
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6. | Reminders for Disposable Lunch Box Recyclers | |||||||||||||||||
6.1 | Handle Disposable Lunch Boxes and Food Waste Properly | |||||||||||||||||
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7. | Relevant Information – Lists of School Lunch Suppliers and Disposable Lunch Box Recyclers | |||||||||||||||||
7.1 | List of School Lunch Suppliers | |||||||||||||||||
7.1.1 | In mid-2007, we conducted a questionnaire survey on all licensed school lunch suppliers in Hong Kong. Based on the returns received, we have compiled a list of suppliers providing the services of Central/On-Site Portioning, Off-Site Portioning with Reusable Lunch Boxes, and/or recycling used PP lunch boxes. The list is at Appendix A. | |||||||||||||||||
7.1.2 | Schools should note that lunch suppliers on the list may provide more than one service, and should be careful when making their choice. | |||||||||||||||||
7.1.3 | There may be other lunch suppliers in the market providing similar services. Schools are encouraged to source beyond the list by using the recommendations in this Guideline for reference. | |||||||||||||||||
7.2 | List of Disposable Lunch Box Recyclers | |||||||||||||||||
7.2.1 | Based on the returns received from the same survey, we have also compiled a list of disposable lunch box recyclers. The list is at Appendix B. | |||||||||||||||||
7.2.2 | There may be other recyclers in the market who recover disposable lunch boxes for recycling. Lunch suppliers are encouraged to source beyond the list by using the recommendations in this Guideline for reference. | |||||||||||||||||
7.3 | Updating of the Lists | |||||||||||||||||
7.3.1 | School lunch suppliers or disposable lunch box recyclers who wish to be included in the respective lists may provide relevant information to us for verification. | |||||||||||||||||
7.3.2 | If schools find any information on the lists factually incorrect (e.g. suppliers fail to provide the services as claimed), please contact us so that we can follow up the matters. | |||||||||||||||||
7.3.3 | The lists will be updated from time to time as and when necessary to provide schools with the latest information. | |||||||||||||||||
8. | Relevant Information – Other Reference Materials and Technical Support | |||||||||||||||||
8.1 |
The Education Bureau has issued the “Guidelines on Meal Arrangements in Schools” providing a comprehensive guide on how meal should be arranged in schools. The guidelines can be accessed through: http://www.edb.gov.hk/attachment/en/sch-admin/admin/about-sch/ meal%20arrangement%20guidelines_Eng_2015.pdf |
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8.2 |
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has also issued a leaflet entitled "Guidelines on How to Ensure School Lunch Ordered are Safe", which provides, inter alia, professional advice on how Central/On-Site Portioning and Off-Site Portioning should be implemented. The leaflet is available in FEHD’s following website: http://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/multimedia/multimedia_pub/files/ school_lunches_ordered_are_safe.pdf |
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8.3 | To help schools distinguish food containers commonly found in the market, examples with photos are shown below for reference: | |||||||||||||||||
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8.4 |
Biodegradable food containers made of plant fibres are similar to EPS food containers in use. Schools should ask for documentary proof if lunch suppliers propose to use such containers. For more details, please refer to the Testing Guideline on the Degradability and Food Safety of Containers and Bags and the registration list maintained by us. The Guideline and registration list can be accessed through: https://www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en/assistancewizard/guide_food_cont.htm. |
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8.5 |
Should there be any enquiries or follow up on this Guideline, please call Environmental Protection Department's Customer Service Centre at 2838 3111 or email to: enquiry@epd.gov.hk. |
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Appendix A: List of School Lunch Suppliers (in alphabetical order) | ||||||||||||||||||
Appendix B: List of Disposable Lunch Box Recyclers (in alphabetical order) | ||||||||||||||||||
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References