I just read a post on a listserv from a PTA mom who attended a meeting focused on improving the school lunch program in MCPS. How is this an issue that effects the environment you ask?
Well, the group named several initiatives besides the obvious one of offering more healthful cafeteria choices to children. One could argue that by serving more fresh and in-season (and produced locally) foods in the school lunches served by the humongous Montgomery County Public Schools, there would be a directly and indirectly positive impact on the environment, no question. But the other thing that got my attention is the following stated goal:
"Get rid of all polystyrene products in the school lunch room,
including those single-use disposable trays. Polystyrene is made
from styrene, a neurotoxin and known to be toxic to the reproductive
system. All polystyrene products still contain styrene. Plus all
55,000 trays/day are incinerated in our county waste incinerator
contributing to air pollution and global warming."
Leave a comment