We, the undersigned Verona residents, respectfully request the Verona Board of Education to require the cafeteria food vendor to stop using Styrofoam dishes. The reasons for doing this are clear.
1-Verona Public Schools currently serve lunches on polystyrene foam (also known as Styrofoam) and aluminum foil trays. These are made from non-renewable resources and are not biodegradable. These plates are tossed in the garbage by the hundreds in Verona schools every day.
2-Polystyrene manufacturing is the 5th largest creator of hazardous waste in the U.S., according to the EPA. Polystyrene is not recyclable in Verona. Aluminum foil trays could be recycled here, after removing food debris.
3-Over 400 cities and towns nationwide have banned polystyrene food packaging, including Secaucus and Rahway in N.J. and Suffolk County N.Y.
Reusable tableware is healthier for kids and better for the environment. If durable and washable dishware is not feasible, we recommend sustainable, compostable tableware. Products made from biodegradable, renewable resources such as sugar cane mean less destruction of our forests and a significant reduction in harmful toxic waste from plastics and Styrofoam.
Switching to biodegradable trays would add just a few cents to the cost of each school lunch. We believe that a well-managed food operation such as Pomptonian should be able to handle such a small cost.
