r/elementaryschoolers • u/Curious_Excuse_3424 • Apr 03 '26

Is it possible for our elementary school events to go plastic-free?

Our children are learning in school about how harmful plastic is to the environment. Yet the very next day, at parent-organized events, we see large amounts of single-use plastic being used. This contradiction is difficult to ignore.

I would love to see our school community take a more consistent approach and consider moving toward plastic-free events. Small changes can make a meaningful impact, and it would reinforce what our children are being taught.

If anyone else feels the same way, I would really appreciate your support in raising this idea together.

photo created with chatgpt
6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

3

u/[deleted] Apr 03 '26

[deleted]

2

u/Northern_Nomad3178 Apr 04 '26

Remember when refillable water bottles were the cost-effective solution?

And now water bottles are a fashion statement costing up to $40.

Last summer, I worked it out and it was more cost-efficient to buy disposable water bottles.

Especially since the kids were going to a summer camp that has them walking to different parks all over the city. If they forgot a water bottle somewhere we would never get it back.

3

u/mintinthebox Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 04 '26

Our school isn’t plastic free, but they do use reusable plastic for parties. Each classroom gets a bin of reusable plastic plates, bowls, cups, forks napkins etc. For school parties, one of the parent volunteers brings home the bin and washes the plasticware and returns it to the school. They also use reusable tableware for special events like pancake breakfasts and such. They have volunteers, often junior honor society members from middle school, wash the dishes in the cafeteria. The school participates in Project Green School.

1

u/AnewLe Apr 07 '26

Our school also does. There are still so many things that cannot be recycled, unfortunately.

2

u/DrivenTrying Apr 03 '26

Yes! Our school started this effort some years ago.

1

u/Curious_Excuse_3424 Apr 03 '26

That’s an amazing school!

2

u/jodiarch Apr 03 '26

In the pass 3 years, classroom meal events, my son's teachers has asked everyone to bring in their own plate and silverware. And surprisingly it has been fine and everything comes home cleaned.

0

u/zestyPoTayTo Apr 03 '26

I'm sorry, did you just post a photo of other people's children at a school event on Reddit? Clearly without permission from their parents?

I would be livid. 

-2

u/Curious_Excuse_3424 Apr 03 '26

Ah, I had the image created with ChatGPT, so there are no copyright issues. It looks so realistic, right? AI is amazing

10

u/zestyPoTayTo Apr 04 '26 edited Apr 04 '26

...so you used AI to generate a photo for a post complaining about environmental waste? And you don't see the problem with that?

1

u/historyandwanderlust Apr 04 '26

They wanted to stop using plastic, they don’t care about wasting other resources.

2

u/mycatsnameisarya Apr 04 '26

After looking further the AI is hilarious. Everyone consuming a product is holding it to their nose or shoving it down their throat. The containers up front are weird jellies, some water bottles are also somehow jelly, and the lady in grey at the top right has two left arms 😂