Board approves on‑site foam‑tray densifier to reduce cafeteria waste

The Dexter Community School District Board of Education voted May 18 to buy an on‑site foam‑tray densifier to reduce the volume of disposable polystyrene cafeteria trays and divert them from landfill.

Director of Food and Nutrition Jennifer Madsen, introduced by the board before her presentation, summarized three tray options — reusable hard plastic, compostable disposable trays, and polystyrene disposable trays — and described barriers for each. She told the board the district previously piloted foam‑tray recycling before the COVID‑19 pandemic and that local commercial composting and recycling channels remain limited in the region.

Madsen said the densifier works by compressing and heating foam to remove air and reduce volume, creating a compact product that can be palletized and shipped for recycling. She said the district received two proposals in response to an RFP: Food Service Sustainability Solutions (a compact model geared to school settings) and Technology International (a higher‑volume system). Madsen recommended the smaller, lower‑footprint unit for the high school and described estimated run cycles and capacity.

Board members pressed for operational details: estimated run frequency (Madsen said periodic runs, roughly once to a few times per week depending on usage), capacity (rough estimates in discussion were on the order of thousands of trays between runs), lead time (about 12 weeks depending on customization), and additional site requirements such as fencing and electrical work. Madsen said the $29,450 price in the proposal covers the unit, delivery, installation and training but does not include fencing or electrical service work; those costs would be funded separately and could come from the Food Service Fund under an approved Excess Fund Balance Plan.

Directors also raised community‑impact questions about odor and emissions from the unit. Madsen said the machine can produce an odor and the district plans to run it at night and provide an exhaust stack; she committed to follow up with the vendor on the machine’s emissions and any required controls.

The board approved a motion to purchase one unit (identified in the procurement paperwork as model SG‑1230SC‑2 from the vendor listed in the packet) for a total not to exceed $29,450. Funding was authorized from the Food Service Fund as approved by the Michigan Department of Education under the district’s Excess Fund Balance Plan.

Next steps: staff will finalize installation logistics (electrical and fencing), obtain updated electrical and site quotes, and follow up with the vendor about emissions and other technical specifications before installation.