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Ditching disposables: A school district’s journey to reducing waste in cafeterias

Most schools in the U.S., including the Fremont Unified School District, or FUSD, serve lunch on disposable trays with a plastic spork kit containing a spork, straw, and paper napkin. These single-use items present two main issues. First, they may contain harmful PFAS chemicals, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, that can leach into food, posing health risks. Second, as a single-use product, they contribute to environmental waste. The reliance on these items highlights the urgent need for sustainable alternatives that prioritize student health and ecological well-being. Recognizing this, FUSD identified reusables as a solution. Reusable stainless steel lunch trays and utensils don’t transfer chemicals to food and offer numerous advantages. To learn more about the district’s journey to replacing disposables with reusables, visit our webpage