Watch this video to learn about the problem of school supply waste! 

• 77% of school supplies are wasted. 
• The average American school wastes an estimated 67 pounds per  student per year in disregarded school supplies and lunches
• 98% of people plan to buy school supplies 
• 35% – 45% of the trash in the solid waste stream comes from businesses like schools.  This trash goes to landfills where it stays for many years.
• U.S. families will shell out more than $25 billion on new pens, pencils, clothes, and more 
• 95% of most peoples’ back-to-school budget is used on school supplies
• 67% say spending is more heavily influenced by schools’ recommended list rather than their children 
• The average total spend forecasted is $122 out of that around $85 is spent on school supplies like paper, pencils, erasers, pens, markers, glue, scissors, and more 
• 87% of parents intend to spend the same or more compared to last year. 
• Analysis of a survey we conducted in our town:
  • 80% percent reported excess school supplies at the end of the year.
  • A majority felt that students are asked to buy more supplies than needed.
• Research articles
  • Last year’s backpack: Tapped out families are struggling to pay for back to school purchases | CNN Business
  • https://www.adoptaclassroom.org/2021/07/29/how-much-do-teachers-spend-on-supplies/
  • https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018097rev.pdf
  • Digging Through School Waste Composition – EduBirdie.com
  • Deloitte back-to-school survey
  • Out-of-Pocket Spending on School Supplies Adds to Strain on Educators | NEA
  • Parents Spending More to Send Kids Back to School (publicschoolreview.com)
  • School Supplies – Walmart.com