Styrofoam is a type of plastic called Polystyrene. It is very harmful the environment and is especially harmful to human health. It has the potential to do damage during the production, the use, and the disposal of it. Clark County School District must keep its students and teachers safe from the dangers of styrofoam and switch to reusable lunch trays.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 57 chemical byproducts were released into the air through production of styrofoam. These chemicals are known to cause health effects including reduced functioning of the lungs and nervous systems. The EPA and International Agency for Research on Cancer have identified Styrofoam as a possible human carcinogen. When styrofoam comes into contact with hot food, it begins to leach those toxic substances into the food, which then goes into the bodies of students and teachers. 

Styrofoam is also very bad for the environment. It is a type of plastic commonly used for takeout containers, disposable plates, and cups. As many know, plastic is extremely harmful for the environment because it does not biodegrade. Instead, it breaks up into smaller pieces called micro-plastics. It takes decades to possibly over a century to breakdown in the environment and even longer in landfill. Phasing out of styrofoam trays completely could make a huge impact on our environment and prevent many animals from being harmed by them. Thousands of animals have to face our pollution and many die from ingestion. With about 320,000 students in the district, a significant difference can be made for the planet and for future generations to come.

CCSD has always strived to provide a great education for the students across the valley, for students like me and for your very own children. But with the rising amount of pollution coming from our very own schools and the deadly consequences of pollution, we are being set up for failure in a world bombarded with plastic and styrofoam.