Eliminate wasteful and dangerous polystyrene trays from Fairfax Schools

Polystyrene (also called expanded polystyrene, EPS, or Styrofoam) is one of the most dangerous materials to the environment. A Petroleum-based plastic, EPS is made using non-renewable, non-sustainable energy. Polystyrene is one of the greatest environmental hazards to the planet because of its overuse in modern society. Styrene and Benzene, two chemicals in polystyrene, have been proven to be carcinogens and neurotoxins. Exposure to Styrene is also linked to skin irritation, chromosomal damage, fatigue, lack of concentration, and thinking and learning disabilities. Both can leach into food that is put into contact with polystyrene, causing direct human health and safety concerns.

It should be self-explanatory that polystyrene is dangerous to both the public and the planet, yet Fairfax County Public School cafeterias still use polystyrene for their food service supplies. FCPS recently reminded parents that their trays are sent to an energy recycling facility and burned. The problem with that approach is that it releases the toxic chemicals stored in the polystyrene into the air.

Arlington County stopped using polystyrene trays in their lunch rooms in 2011. Arlington County has approximately 21,082 students, while Fairfax has 175,296. So think for a moment about how much damage Fairfax County Public Schools are doing by wasting resources, polluting the environment, and miseducating every student every day about their own school system's embodiment of sustainability, to say nothing of the danger they are putting every single student in by voluntarily exposing them to such a dangerous material.

Since it is not economically feasible for Fairfax County Public Schools to switch to plastic trays that they could reuse because of a high upfront cost for the trays and dishwashers, the best option would be biodegradable and/or compostable trays. These could be thrown out with the garbage (or composted for use in school gardens) and would not be environmentally detrimental or dangerous.

I started this petition because, as a Fairfax County student, I was shocked to learn the nature of the lunch supplies used at my school. I was even more shocked to learn about the nature of polystyrene, and I now know that something has to be done about this unsafe practice. Dunkin' Donuts has realized that. Colleges around the country have realized that. The cities of San Francisco, Washington D.C., and New York have realized that. Montgomery County in Maryland has realized that, and many other school systems, including the Los Angeles Unified School District and Chicago Public Schools, have realized that. These companies, municipalities, and school systems have all banned polystyrene and are now using safer, more sustainable food service supplies. Fairfax County Public Schools needs to be next.
_

Please sign this petition if you agree that Fairfax County Public Schools should abolish polystyrene eating supplies from their cafeterias. By signing this petition, you will help gain publicity and momentum for this endeavor.

Any comments? You can either contribute them in the "reason for signing" box that goes after your name when you sign this petition, or you can email me directly at NoPolystyreneFCPS@gmail.com. Thank you so much for your support.
_

MORE INFORMATION

http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic967858.files/PolystyreneFactSheets.pdf

http://styrofoammom.com/

http://yre-connect.com/pink-pernicious-and-polystyrene/ 

http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/school-lunch-tray-dilemma.html

CITATIONS

http://www.epa.gov/airtoxics/hlthef/styrene.html

http://www.epa.gov/airtoxics/hlthef/benzene.html

http://www.fcps.edu/fs/food/talk/recycling.shtml

http://www.fcps.edu/fs/food/talk/documents/pinktrayposter.pdf

OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS/CITIES BANNING POLYSTYRENE

http://www.cafeteriaculture.org/foam-trays-out-of-schools.html

https://www.linkedin.com/grp/post/4733995-6008762910086619138

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/six-of-the-nations-largest-school-districts-dump-polystyrene-trays/2015/05/24/3abb5636-00b4-11e5-8b6c-0dcce21e223d_story.html

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/tech/science/environment/2015/03/11/children-ask-lawmakers-ban-polystyrene-schools/24736575/

http://www.dailynews.com/social-affairs/20120823/lausd-to-ban-styrofoam-food-trays-at-all-school-campuses

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/08/22/a-call-to-ban-foam-trays-in-schools-and-restaurants/?_r=0

http://www.onearth.org/earthwire/urban-school-food-alliance-compostable-plates?utm_source=tw&utm_medium=tweet&utm_campaign=socialmedia 

http://www.takepart.com/article/2014/06/25/bye-bye-styrofoam-washington-dc-finally-bans-plastic-takeout-containers

http://www.ecoguardian.com/news/cps-phasing-out-styrofoam-food-trays

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-votes-to-ban-plastic-foam-food-containers/2014/06/24/29aec84c-fbe1-11e3-8176-f2c941cf35f1_story.html

http://www.foodservicedirector.com/ideas-innovation/going-green/articles/duke-dining-prohibits-polystyrene

http://www.somervillema.gov/news/foam-container-ban-enforcement-begins

http://www.recyclingtoday.com/maryland-eps-ban.aspx

http://time.com/3660943/new-york-city-styrofoam-ban/

http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20141209/styrofoam-gets-the-boot-in-guilford-public-schools

http://www.gazette.net/article/20141112/NEWS/141119776/1081/takoma-park-passes-polystyrene-eating-ware-ban&template=gazette

http://journaltimes.com/news/local/education/student-project-means-foam-lunch-trays-being-replaced-by-reusable/article_3f934b34-b3a6-11e3-b908-0019bb2963f4.html

http://davidgmiller.typepad.com/lovelandmagazine/2014/09/new-trays-for-better-meals-at-little-miami-schools.html