Green your lunch routine

Help eliminate the 3.5 billion pounds of lunchbox garbage generated every year by greening your lunch as well as your family’s. Not only will it reduce your impact...it will also save you some cash.

Pack a lunch

Try a reusable lunch bag . Opt for washable, reusable containers for you and other family members to tote their lunch. Invest in a PVC-free, thermally insulated lunch bag. Try one made from recycled juice boxes or organic cotton. Or ask about receiving an Air North Texas 100% recycled cotton lunch bag...it’s free!

Use washable, reusable plastic containers. Instead of packing snacks and sandwiches in baggies, plastic wrap or aluminum foil, use reusable plastic containers. Don’t forget to pack cloth napkins and reusable utensils.

Recycle any lunch waste. Take home any lunch waste you can recycle...this includes plastic bottles and soda cans. Better yet, ask your employer to start a recycling program.  

When eating out, walk or carpool and skip the drive-through

Go to the farmers market. The Dallas-Fort Worth area has numerous farmers’ markets that are within walking or biking distance and public transit from where you work. These markets sell a locally grown lunchtime goody that requires less fossil fuels and emissions to get it to you. A quick online search will turn up a comprehensive list of markets in your area.

Avoid the drive-through. Many drive-through restaurants can take three or more minutes to get your order out. Walk inside instead; it’s quicker, uses less gas, and is better for the environment.

Green your takeout. Ask your restaurant to leave out all napkins, plastic cutlery and anything else that would normally get tossed into your delivery bag. Stash a real fork, knife, and cloth napkin at your desk.

Walk or carpool to a nearby restaurant. Despite your best intentions, there will be days when you simply forget to bring your lunch to work. By walking or carpooling you’ll reduce harmful emissions from polluting the air.

Keep your vehicle maintained if you're the driver of the lunch carpool. Keep your vehicle registration current, obey the speed limit, and follow your vehicle’s maintenance schedule.  

Repair or replace your vehicle for carpooling with the AirCheckTexas Drive a Clean Machine Program

Need a newer, cleaner vehicle? Need emissions repairs? The AirCheckTexas Drive a Clean Machine Program is designed to help vehicle owners comply with vehicle emissions standards. It targets the highest polluting vehicles by offering assistance to remove them from the roadways and improve the air quality in North Texas.

Vehicle Requirements for Assistance:

• Currently registered in a participating county (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Rockwall or Tarrant) and has been for at least 12 months prior to the application.
• Passed a DPS safety and emissions inspection within 15 months of application.
• Drivable and gasoline-powered.
• Failed an emissions test within 30 days of application.

OR

• If the vehicle is at least 10 years old or older and meets the first three requirements, then it does not have to fail an emissions test to qualify for assistance.

If you meet the above requirements and income requirements, the following assistance will be provided:

• $3,500 for a hybrid, current or previous model year.
• $3,000 for a car, current or previous three model years.
• $3,000 for a truck, current or previous two model years.

OR

• Up to $600 for emissions repair assistance is available.

Replacement Vehicle Requirements:

• Federal Emissions Standards Tier 2, Bin 5 or cleaner.
• 10,000 pounds or less.
• Cost less than $25,000 before tax, title, and license.

Program participants must meet income requirements and vehicles must meet certain conditions. For more information call
1-800-898-9103 or click here.

Encourage others to green their lunch. The more people greening their lunch, the more fun it will be. Try to start a green lunch club once a week with co-workers, or find an officemate to eat with who shares your taste in all things green.