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New Jersey Currents - Fall 2017
Check out New Jersey Currents - Clean Water Action's Fall Newsletter 2017!
Letter to Gov. Scott on Deep Injection Wells within the Lake Okeechobee Watershed are contrary to Everglades Restoration
We, the below-signed organizations and businesses committed to the restoration of America’s Everglades and the protection of all of Florida’s water resources write to express our concerns and opposition to the use of Deep Injection Wells (DIWs) within the Lake Okeechobee Watershed as part of Everglades Restoration.
Comments on Connecticut's Comprehensive Energy Strategy
It is imperative that Connecticut take swift, bold action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the public health threats we are already facing and which are likely to become more prevalent and extreme without action.
2026 Engaging in Democracy Training
Join us this Thursday, January 29th at 6:00 pm CST for a free training on how you can take part in the democratic process in Minnesota.
Harrington Elementary School, Lexington, MA
Harrington Elementary School, located in Lexington, Massachusetts, enrolls 363 students. It is the second school in the district to transition to reusable trays and cutlery in the cafeteria, after the 2020 construction of a new Hastings Elementary. Harrington was identified as an ideal candidate to renovate the existing kitchen since the location had a broken under-thecounter dishwasher and access to plumbing infrastructure.
The goal became to replace the broken dishwasher with a new hightemperature, ventless, energy-efficient, stand-up model. With support from Lexington’s State Representative Michelle Ciccolo, $25,000 was allocated in the State Budget for the purchase of the dish machine, and a generous grant from the Community Endowment of Lexington for $10,000 funded the purchase of stainless-steel Ahimsa trays, forks, spoons, and additional reuse equipment. The cost of installation, which increased from initial estimates due to electrical and plumbing upgrades, was covered by the district’s School Lunch Revolving Account, totaling $45,000. This investment also streamlined kitchen operations, removing unused equipment, freeing up space, and allowing staff to wash pots and pans in a dish machine, whereas previously they had been hand-washing all serviceware.
Business Profile:
- Name: Harrington Elementary School
- Location: Lexington, MA
- On-site Dining: Yes
- Take-out: No
- Warewashing: Champion Commercial, Dishwasher Model No. DH-6000T-VHR
- Employees: 3 kitchen staff, 1 dishwasher, 2 waste monitors daily (volunteer/staff)
Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:
- Single-use BPI-certified 5-compartment compostable tray
- Single-use BPI-certified compostable fork
- Single-use BPI-certified compostable spoon
Recommendations Implemented:
- Stainless-steel 5-compartment Ahimsa tray
- Stainless-steel Ahimsa fork
- Stainless-steel Ahimsa spoon
Images below: Single-use trays, forks and spoons were replaced with reusable stainless steel serviceware, and a new warewashing machine.
Before & After
Business Information:
Harrington, MA
United States
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is $3,696 in annual net savings, achieved by eliminating 175,500 disposable items and 2 tons of waste per year, adding $1,000 in compost-hauling savings, and recouping reusable foodware costs in just 3.2 months while supporting a new part-time dishwashing position.
$3,696
Total annual net cost savings
175,500
Disposable items reduced per year
2 tons
Annual waste reduction
I am incredibly proud that our school is helping to lead the way in reducing trash and waste. In doing so, we are not only protecting the environment but also saving taxpayer dollars. I am grateful to Clean Water Action for coordinating this initiative, to State Representative Ciccolo for securing funding, and to the Community Endowment of Lexington for providing the new trays and utensils. This work is especially meaningful because our students understand its impact. As members of Harrington’s Sustainability Team shared, ‘We like the new dishwasher because it’s better for the environment since we’re not throwing anything away. This is better for the future because the compostable trays we used before caused pollution when they were produced. Using reusable trays can help slow down global warming.’ Each day at lunch, our students are learning what it means to care for their wider community.
Reducing Single-Use Food Packaging
ReThink Disposable works with local governments, businesses and institutions, and consumers of single use food packaging to inspire a cultural shift away from single-use "throwaway" lifestyle.