In early October, Berkeley High School became the first public high school in California to transition from single-use paper trays to reusable stainless-steel trays for its cafeteria meal services. The change followed the adoption of stainless-steel trays across elementary and middle schools around the Bay Area in 2024.
In California, all public high schools are required to provide free daily lunches to all students. BHS sophomore, Twyla Sheridan, eats school lunch three to four times a week.
“The (single-use trays) were flimsy and got wet with soggy food,” Sheridan said. “I actually don’t mind how we have to put them in the tray returns. The tray returns are spread out in good places, so it’s just as easy as throwing (them) out,” she added.
Most California schools use single-use black plastic trays to serve school lunches. According to Beyond Plastics, black plastic accounts for 15 percent of all recyclable plastics, yet it often cannot be effectively processed and recycled. Recycling centers use infrared detecting technology to sort plastics by color but these mechanisms are unable to detect black color, meaning most black plastic often ends up in the landfill.
Before transitioning to stainless-steel, BHS used molded fiber food containers, known to be an eco-friendly alternative to plastics. Molded fiber is made from recycled paper and plant-based fibers, but has been treated with synthetic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These chemicals, often known as “forever chemicals,” improve resistance against grease and moisture and enhance the durability of the containers.
Research from the American Cancer Society reported that exposure to PFAS chemicals can increase serious health problems including cancer, liver damage, thyroid issues, birth defects, and more. Furthermore, these chemicals do not decompose when disposed of and contaminate soil, groundwater, and local water supplies.
Ben Schleifer runs a business called Boundless Reuse, which collaborates with Bay Area public schools to help them shift to reusable trays. BHS was the first to agree to pilot the program.
“The systems are set in place to kind of do single use, and so it is hard. It’s not a light switch to make these changes,” Schleifer said.
Since BHS introduced the reusable stainless-steel trays, students have returned the trays at a rate of 98 to 99 percent. Schleifer also reported that no trays have been discarded, and only a few have been left behind on top of garbage cans and in the cafeteria.
“The students are mostly positive about it. … (They) are at least attempting to do the right thing,” he said.
The implementation of these multi-use trays not only affects BHS students but includes multiple staff departments. BUSD administration and the BHS nutrition staff will decide whether to continue the project, and custodial staff are distributing and collecting the return stations.
Siena Ingraham, a BHS junior and one of BHS’ commissioners of environmental sustainability, has collaborated with Schleifer to publicize the transition to stainless-steel trays. Ingraham spoke about the significance of this project and other efforts to increase sustainability at BHS.
“All of us have some fear of environmental disaster in our future, and everyone wants to prevent it at least a little,” she said, “All I ask is for everyone to return (their trays). If everyone just does their part then these changes can be implemented.”
If successful, Schleifer hopes BHS will inspire other high schools across California to adopt reusable stainless-steel trays. Schleifer is also considering replacing other single-use cafeteria items, such as cups and utensils, with reusable alternatives. At a state level, Schleifer is helping Ingraham lead a student coalition advocating against black plastic, which is what most California schools use as of the present moment. Ingraham and her coalition hope to travel to Sacramento to lobby for a bill banning black plastic in California schools.
