Students participating in the California Youth Climate Policy (CYCP) program are exploring practical ways to reduce cafeteria waste in Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). We are asking the LBUSD Board of Education to adopt a districtwide K–12 cafeteria waste-reduction policy with clear goals and a realistic implementation plan.

Why should students and families care?

Students from elementary school through high school eat meals in our district cafeterias. Depending on the school and meal, disposable trays, lids, cups, utensils, and packaging can create a steady stream of waste. Meanwhile, edible food and recyclable or compostable materials can be wasted when prevention, recovery, and sorting systems are not effective. Better systems can reduce trash, support cafeteria staff, and help students develop sustainable habits.

There is also a reasonable health question: what materials are touching students' food? Some substances used in food-contact materials can migrate into food depending on the material and conditions of use. The FDA evaluates food-contact substances for their intended uses and potential migration. At the same time, the FDA says current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that the levels of microplastics and nanoplastics found in food pose a health risk, and there is not sufficient evidence to show that these particles migrate from plastic food packaging into food and drinks.

We are not claiming that all plastic foodware is toxic or that LBUSD's current products have been proven to harm students. We are asking the district to review what is actually being used, reduce unnecessary disposable plastic food contact where practical, and consider reusable foodware suited to the food and temperature—especially when serving hot meals—while meeting food-safety, sanitation, and budget requirements.

Practical alternatives are worth evaluating. A Clean Water Action case study of Berkeley Unified's reusable-foodware pilot at two elementary schools and one middle school reports that the first phase eliminated approximately 170,000 single-use items and reduced waste by 3.3 tons per school year, with $13,064 in annual net savings. LBUSD's results could differ, but this shows that reusable foodware can be a practical option worth assessing.

We ask the LBUSD Board of Education to:

Audit cafeteria foodware and waste to identify where single-use items are used and where improvements are feasible.
Pilot reusable trays, plates, cups, and utensils where practical, and reduce unnecessary single-use plastics.
Improve edible-food recovery, organic-waste diversion, recycling, and student-facing waste-sorting systems.
Establish measurable goals, consult students, parents, teachers, and cafeteria staff, and report progress publicly.
Please sign to show that reducing cafeteria waste deserves attention across LBUSD—not just at one school or grade level. We plan to share the petition's results with the Board as evidence of community interest, alongside research and practical recommendations.