The following article was contributed by Wilton Go Green President Tammy Thornton.
Wilton’s Cider Mill School kitchen serves roughly 300 meals a day. Students there use disposable trays and utensils for a maximum of 15 minutes each school day. In a 180 day school year that’s over 50,000 disposable trays going into the trash for just one school!
Single-use disposable trays and utensils use energy and resources to create, can easily end up as litter, and cost money to throw away.
Wilton Public Schools, in partnership with Wilton Go Green, began its commitment to waste reduction in 2018 with the implementation of the Zero Waste Schools program in Wilton’s school cafeterias. Students have been working on programs to increase recycling and divert food scraps to compost at school.
Now, Cider Mill School is ready to move into the reusable revolution in its cafeteria and Wilton Go Green is here to help!
Wilton Go Green is raising funds through a Sustainable CT Community Match Fund to install a dish machine and additional equipment as well as purchase reusable stainless steel trays for Cider Mill students to use. The fundraising goal is $7,500.
The best part? Sustainable CT has generously agreed to match every dollar donated up to $7,500! Wilton residents can help reach that goal by donating through Wilton Go Green’s safe and secure Patronicity fundraising page.
Investing in reusable stainless steel trays and utensils for Cider MIll will eliminate all that unnecessary waste, improve the dining experience, and reduce waste carting costs.
Stainless steel is the only non-breakable dishware material recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Research shows that chemicals in plastic affect children’s health. Ahimsa‘s assortment of grade 304 18/8 foodware comes with a 10-year warranty and is dishwasher safe.
Together, let’s ditch plastic and join the stainless steel movement. It’s better for kids’ health — and better for the planet.
What about the other Wilton schools?
Thanks to a Wilton High School junior’s passion and persistence, Wilton High School received Connecticut ARPA funds to install a dish machine and start a reusable utensil program.
Miller-Driscoll School currently has a small dish machine and as a result will be able to have a reusable utensil program starting this fall.
We hope to have Middlebrook School join the reusable program in the future.
Wilton Go Green has partnered with Plastic Free Restaurants to obtain reusable utensils for Miller-Driscoll, Cider Mill and Wilton High School through its subsidy program free of charge.
An online donation to the Wilton Go Green fundraising page, in any amount, will help reach the summer goal!
Anyone who prefers to give offline by cash or check can mail donations to:
Wilton Go Green, Inc.
PO Box 7652
Wilton, CT 06897
Email Tammy Thornton with and questions or inquiries.
Editor’s note: The headline has been updated to reflect that the fundraising effort is spearheaded by Wilton Go Green to benefit Cider Mill School. Cider Mill is not conducting any fundraising.