Bergen County School District To Stop Using Styrofoam

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A county school district took the first step in banning the use of Styrofoam lunch trays at its schools.

Leonia's Anna C. Scott Elementary School will stop using Styrofoam cafeteria trays beginning Monday, Superintendent Joanne Megargee announced at a board of education meeting Tuesday night. The district's middle and high schools will switch to non-Styrofoam trays next school year.

The Leonia Action Alliance, a grassroots community group dedicated to environmental, social justice and other progressive issues, urged the board to make the switch.

The district's move comes ahead of a state bill under review that would ban Styrofoam in all New Jersey public schools and colleges.

The alliance launched a campaign to make Leonia a Styrofoam-free community, joining Jersey City, Secaucus and Rahway.

Leonia Girl Scouts are joining the alliance urging store owners and residents to curb their use of Styrofoam.

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Photo: Girl Scouts speak to the Leonia Board of Education about the dangers of Styrofoam./Courtesy of Leonia Action Alliance