Waltham Fifth-Graders: Ditch Styrofoam Lunch Trays

WALTHAM, MA — A group of Girl Scouts from the fifth grade at MacArthur Elementary are proposing that Waltham School Cafeterias exchange their foam trays in favor of something a bit more sustainable.

Girl Scout Troop 66040 came before the City Council to present the idea they've been working on saying their school cafeteria goes through some 1,200 Styrofoam trays, every week or 43,200 each school year.

"This is a problem," the girls told the city council. "Styrofoam is very bad for the environment. We don't recycle Styrofoam."

After researching how Styrofoam is made and what happens to it after it's trashed, then the girls put together a presentation to give to the Food Service Director for Waltham Public Schools. Inspired by that presentation, the food service department implemented a biodegradable tray pilot at MacArthur. Beyond that, the director is starting a "Green Team" to spearhead sustainable efforts across the district, according to the scouts.

The girls pointed out that a number of communities are realizing the dangers of the product. Brookline banned Polystyrene, more commonly known as Styrofoam, for take-out or to go in 2012, and it went into effect the following year.

At the time, proponents argued that Styrene (the chemical found in and released from polystyrene) is noxious to make, does not biodegrade and are on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services list of reasonably anticipated carcinogens and may leach into food and beverages as well as on going environmental concerns.

A Bill Banning Styrofoam Trays in Schools recently passed the CT state senate. Dunkin Donuts has promised to ditch foam cups by the end of the year. And Newton is currently considering a ban.

Check out their presentation, which was recorded on Waltham's Cable Access TV MAC-TV here:

RELATED:

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Dunkin' Ditching Foam Cups By End Of Year

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).