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South Plainfield students push reusable silverware; Green Team seeks $2,000 PSE&G grant for spring fair
Summary
Students from South Plainfield High School urged the borough to reduce single-use plastic cutlery and promoted reusable stainless utensils; a resident said the Green Team submitted a $2,000 PSE&G grant application to fund a Green Fair paired with the mayor's wellness health fair.
Students from the South Plainfield High School Environmental Science Club urged the borough on Feb. 18 to reduce single-use plastic cutlery by promoting reusable stainless utensils and distribution of utensil pouches.
Shrey, a member of the environmental science club, opened the student presentation: "We are here today representing the environmental science club at the South Plainfield High School," and the students said their analysis found rapid growth in global plastic production and noted plastic cutlery contributes a measurable share of ocean plastic.
Debbie Boyle of Van Fleet spoke during the public-comment portion and described a Green Team resolution on the evening's agenda. Boyle said she submitted an application to PSE&G for a $2,000 grant to host a Green Fair combined with the mayor's wellness health fair, and that planned giveaways would include metal straws, seedlings and a metal pouch holding a fork, knife and spoon. "The final submission for March is the resolution by the mayor and council," Boyle said.
Council members thanked the students and supporters. Councilman Smith praised the students' delivery and acknowledged individuals who helped prepare the grant application and giveaway items. The batch of resolutions that passed later in the meeting (Resolutions 25-89 through 25-101) passed by a 5-0 roll-call vote; the transcript indicates the Green Team resolution mentioned by Boyle was included in that package, though the individual resolution number for the Green Team was not read aloud.
The students and the Green Team indicated preferences for stainless silverware over single-use plastic, seedling plantings, and small reusable utensil kits as immediate, low-cost measures to reduce plastic waste locally. The council voiced general support and encouraged the groups to continue outreach.
There was no further public debate or recorded amendment to the Green Team resolution in the meeting record.
