Our school district is overusing Styrofoam, the very material our district's lunch trays are made of. Styrofoam has been banned in several school districts already, including San Francisco and Berkeley School Districts. Switching our trays to a material that is biodegradable or reusable would be extremely friendly to our environment.

Styrofoam is not biodegradable. The average amount of Styrofoam cups made per day can circle the Earth one time around. The Hudson Public School System has approximately 5,300 students. If 3/5 of these students buy lunch every day, around 3,180 Styrofoam cafeteria trays are used " each school day. For the duration of the school year, about 200 school days, 636,000 Styrofoam cafeteria trays are used.

I believe that in order to protect our environment, the school district should change its school trays to a biodegradable material, such as Bagasse (sugar cane) trays. Another alternative is using plastic trays, which could be washed and reused daily.

By taking this action, I feel that the Hudson City School District will make a difference in the world, small as it may be, and take part in the first step to saving our Earth. Also, the school district would set a good example for its students " to care for the Earth and its environment.

Sincerely,

Grace Yi
7th grade student
Hudson Middle School