Lunch Out of Landfill: Dumpster Diving in Sun Valley
Yep!  Approximately 50 Rotarians and friends went dumpster diving in search of edible food, compostables, liquids, recycling, and true-trash at the District Celebration.  We sorted through Ernest Hemingway STEAM school’s lunch waste. 
 
What treasures in the trash! Gold carrots. Lovely milk to grow healthy children. Fruits and other compostables to make rich soil that could grow more healthy food. Plus stuff to recycle.
 
A junior from Minidoka 4H told us that their club was able to divert 70% of their high school’s food waste when they ran Lunch out of Landfills for a week. Nate Francisco, Southern Idaho Solid Waste Environmental Manager, explained what happens to our waste. Lynne Barker, Blaine County Sustainability Manager, explained how our waste plays a big part in climate change.
 
Imagine the food we could get to hungry people in our communities.  Imagine the healthy soil and lovely food we could grow with compost from our leftovers.  It’s so simple and scalable to sort and share, just like our ancestors. 
 
Interested in learning more about Lunch out of Landfills?  Please contact: Kevin Bradshaw, Twin Falls; Doug Rutan, Meridian; Leif Tapanila, Pocatello; or Laurie Zuckerman.