By Hildur Palsdottir

In celebration of a global Earth Day initiative to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainability, the North Shore and Port Washington School Districts are proud to announce their participation in Plastic-Free Lunch Day on April 19. This marks the first year for
the North Shore Central School District and the second year for the Port Washington Union Free School District to demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship and to foster eco-friendly practices within their communities.

Plastic-Free Lunch Day, originally initiated in New York City by Cafeteria Culture and championed locally by both Transition Town Port Washington and Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, aims to raise awareness about the environmental impact of single-use plastics, particularly in school lunch programs. This event has gained momentum, highlighting the power of community collaboration in driving positive change.

This initiative has been embraced by the food service directors of both districts, and innovative menus have been planned to significantly reduce plastic usage. Educators and students have welcomed the opportunity to bring greater awareness about the perils of plastic pollution.

The Port Washington School District is “thrilled to continue this important work, taking actions to keep our children healthy and maintain a focus on the environment,” said Dr. Michael Hynes, superintendent of Port Washington School District. He added, “The lessons learned by our students will serve our local community and the world at large. We remain grateful for our partners and to Aramark [food-service provider] for their willingness to join us.”

“We are excited to join hands with the Port Washington School District and participate in Plastic-Free Lunch Day for the first time this year. It’s an opportunity for us to educate our students about the importance of reducing plastic waste. We are grateful to the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor and their Junior Ambassadors for bringing us this initiative. This a powerful example of how service to our community is often the best form of authentic learning,” said Chris Zublionis, superintendent of the North Shore School District.

“Our food service director, Alan Levin, continues to find ways to innovate and adjust to the changing needs of our Viking Community,” he said.

In collaboration with students, teachers and staff, both districts have organized various activities and educational initiatives leading up to Plastic-Free Lunch Day. Students are actively engaged in promoting the event through classroom discussions and creation of the supporting awareness campaign, empowering them to become advocates for environmental conservation.

“Given the tremendous pollution plastics create and the growing evidence of its ill effects on human health and the environment, we commend the Port Washington Union Free Public School District forphasing out single-use plastics in our children’s cafeterias,” said Margaret Galbraith, president of Transition Town Port Washington. “And we applaud our TTPW Youth Activists for their successful, three-year effort to educate our school community about the health and environmental impact of single-use plastics on our population.”

Plastic-Free Lunch Day serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility we share in safeguarding our planet for future generations. By creating awareness about the prevalence of plastic waste, the North Shore and Port Washington School Districts are taking proactive steps toward creating a greener and more sustainable future.