We Must Continue Our Progress Toward Sustainability
With the increased number of environmental issues such as climate change and wildlife preservation, promoting sustainability in the workplace, at home and at school is needed now more than ever. In the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD) Food Services Volume 1 Issue 3 Newsletter, PVPUSD announced that the district is beginning to utilize biodegradable trays and paper products for students’ lunches. In addition, PVPUSD will begin to gather food waste in the school cafeterias for composting purposes. Although such measures are appreciated and signify the growing movement toward sustainability on campus, there is still more that can be done to reduce our ecological footprint.
For instance, we have already implemented biodegradable lunch trays in our school cafeterias — the next step is reusable, metal or wooden trays and utensils. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnetonka middle schools replaced their biodegradable utensils and materials with reusable utensils and bowls. After this switch, the schools were able to reduce the amount of trash produced by 6,712 pounds and predicted to save $23,000 over the span of three years.
Additionally, the Minnetonka middle schools reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 77 percent and water consumption by tens of thousands of gallons, further progressing toward the movement of sustainability. The only negative repercussion of this implementation was an increase of dishwasher usages by kitchen staff from 38 loads to 41.5 loads per day. However, this is a small sacrifice compared to the long-term benefits of such actions. According to the University of Chicago, the energy required to wash these utensils in a dishwasher is less harmful to the environment than the energy it takes to transport the organic waste to the composting sites. Thus, if these schools were able to successfully carry out such measures, then we should be able to as well.
Yet, some may argue that the extra cost to administer reusable materials will outweigh its benefits. However, PVPUSD can, in fact, save its funds in the long run. As seen in Minnetonka middle schools, the district resulted in saving $3,000 on the reusable lunch materials after its addition to the school kitchens. Although we would still need to purchase the necessary cleaning equipment for reusable dishware if we used these methods in our district, this one-time investment can provide for students years after it is put into place. With the continued usage of reusable materials, students’ lunch costs may also begin to decrease. For example, at the Minnetonka middle schools, each student’s lunch costs decreased from $6.89 to $4.83. Thus, such implementations in our school cafeterias could benefit not only the district financially, but also families, while furthering progress toward sustainability.
PVPUSD is taking the right step with its existing measures, but additions such as reusable trays and utensils can open doors to a more environmentally conscious path.
If improvements can be made in the district’s food services, there is nothing stopping us from making such changes in the bathrooms, offices or even classrooms — the possibilities are endless.
