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Attendee urges Milton-Freewater schools to switch to reusable lunch utensils
Summary
During public comment, an attendee urged the district to consider reusable metal utensils to reduce waste and potential microplastic exposure, citing a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency report and an example of two middle schools that saved about $3,000 in the first year.
During the public-comment portion of the meeting an attendee urged the board to explore switching from disposable plastic utensils to reusable metal utensils for school meals, saying such a change could benefit student health and reduce long-term costs. The speaker cited a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency report and said two middle schools (about 2,000 students, staff and visitors combined) reported approximately $3,000 in first-year savings after switching to reusable utensils.
Staff acknowledged there are additional factors to consider (water and labor costs for washing, logistics of distribution and storage) and accepted the speaker's materials for review. The board did not take immediate action on the suggestion during the meeting; staff indicated they would review the information and consider fiscal and operational feasibility.
