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Cooley Elementary fifth-graders urge Waterford School District to replace Styrofoam lunch trays
Summary
Fifth-graders from Cooley Elementary presented research to the Waterford School Board at the meeting, saying Styrofoam trays used for district breakfasts and lunches are not recyclable and pose health and environmental risks; students suggested alternatives and board members said they would look into the issue.
Fifth-graders from Cooley Elementary told the Waterford School Board on Tuesday that the district should stop serving meals on Styrofoam trays and adopt reusable or compostable alternatives.
The students said their research shows the trays are not recyclable, take centuries to break down in landfills, and can leach toxic chemicals when used with hot food. "We were surprised that our breakfast and lunch trays were not recyclable," said Juliana Torres, a fifth grader in Ms. Launteen's class at Cooley Elementary. "What we discovered in our research was not only that our breakfast and lunch trays are not recyclable, but we also learned that once they go to the landfill, it takes more than 500 years for them…
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