The school has teamed up with MidWaste, the NSW Government Love Food Hate Waste program and BehaviourWorks Australia to explore effective food waste reduction measures in NSW schools through the Lunchbox Leftovers pilot program.

Every student wastes three kilograms of food each year on average.

In Australia students throw away 3.5 million uneaten sandwiches, 3 million pieces of whole fruit and 1.3 million items of packaged foods annually.

Bungwahl Public School is one of nine schools across the Mid North Coast selected to participate in the Lunchbox Leftovers program trialling three innovative program implementations, Make Your Own Lunch, Take Leftovers Home and Play Before Eating.

The Great Lakes school has chosen to take part in the Make Your Own Lunch intervention, educating and engaging Year 3 to 6 students and families with information to reduce food thrown away, including recipe ideas, how to create a balanced lunchbox and tips for fussy eaters.

Teacher, Emma Breese said the school was excited to participate in the program and looked forward to seeing a reduction in the amount of food left uneaten or thrown away by students and an increase in kids involvement in making their own lunches.

"We know that when food is thrown away, all the valuable resources that went into producing, packaging, transporting and selling that food is also wasted," Ms Breese said.

MidWaste project officer, Wendy Grant said all families could learn how to reduce food waste at home by signing up for the free online Food Smart program at MidWaste Food Smart program HERE.

"Food Smart includes easy, step-by-step guides to help you reduce your food waste and keep more money in your pocket," Ms Grant said.

This project is supported by the NSW Environment Protection Authority as part of the Waste Less Recycle More initiative, funded from the waste levy.

Stay ahead with local news by signing up for the Great Lakes Advocate newsletter here.

You might be interested: