Compostable food trays win Santa Maria-Bonita School District environmental stewardship award

Ditching its Styrofoam food trays and switching to compostable trays was a winning move for the environment and for the Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s Food Service Department. The department received an award from the Community Environmental Council for its dedication to environmental stewardship in food services practices. 

The district now uses molded fiber compartment trays, made from 100 percent recycled paper fibers that are 100 percent compostable. The switch wasn’t an easy one, though. Liz Powell, who was food service director at the time the district was looking for more environmentally friendly alternatives, said the district knew that because of its student body size it could make a large environmental footprint.

“Santa Maria-Bonita is so large, and we needed to do better as good stewards of the community.”

The district serves more than 1.3 million breakfasts and 2.7 million lunches each year in its 20 school cafeterias. 

The district tested a variety of tray options but it took almost two years to find a tray that was cost effective, sturdy enough for food, and better for the environment. 

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