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Miami, Orlando Schools Ditch Styrofoam Trays

MIAMI (AP) — The school districts in Miami and Orlando are removing Styrofoam trays from school lunchrooms and replacing them with compostable plates made of recycled newsprint. The Urban School Food Alliance made the announcement last week. It's part of an effort to use the purchasing power of large districts to produce environmentally conscious changes. School districts in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas also are included in the project. Together, they will remove 225 million plastic foam trays a year. School districts have relied on the foam trays because they cost 4 cents apiece, compared to their compostable counterparts that average about 12 cents each. The compostable plates bought through the alliance cost about 5 cents each.

Scott is a reporter for WUFT News who may be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news @wuft.org
The Associated Press is a wire service to which WUFT News subscribes.