Biodegradable Serving Trays and What’s On Them: Recycling & Composting Initiative

“TDS provided all the training at each campus,” Gutierrez said. “Their intent was to reduce the amount of trash entering their landfill. They had estimated that they only had about 40 years before the landfill would be full.”

About three years ago, San Marcos CISD schools started a composting program, and the program’s been highly successful.

Looking for new ways to continue recycling, the Child Nutrition Department is now using biodegradable trays in the cafeterias to further commit to the preservation of our environment.

According to SMCISD Director of Custodial Services Robert Gutierrez, the district partnered with Texas Disposal Systems (TDS)-Austin—the district’s garbage and recycling provider—on the composting initiative.

“TDS provided all the training at each campus,” Gutierrez said. “Their intent was to reduce the amount of trash entering their landfill. They had estimated that they only had about 40 years before the landfill would be full.”

TDS has a program called Green Schools Solutions, and San Marcos CISD is one of 12 Central Texas school districts that participate in the program.

TDS works closely with the school district to customize the “best balance between trash, recycling and compost options for the most cost-effective solution.”

The district results are reported by each campus on the TDS website for students and administrators to monitor progress and develop more ways to improve their individual campus programs.

The collection areas at each campus are clearly labeled with pictures and/or samples for the categories for trash, recycling, and compost options, and both students and staff are trained in the differences. Custodians work hand-in-hand with cafeteria workers to guide PK-12 student progress.

Gutierrez said, “One the training was completed, we implemented the program, and we immediately started to see the results. On an average elementary campus, we used to throw away about 30-40 bags of trash per day per campus. Once we stared to compost, we averaged about 6-8 bags of trash per day.”

Following that success, Child Nutrition Director Mike Boone looked beyond what was on the cafeteria trays to the actual tray itself.

He researched options in biodegradable serving trays and tried out several brands, finally settling on the tray that was recently introduced to the campus cafeteria lines.

“We hope these biodegradable serving trays will enable us to even further decrease the landfill footprint and further promote our district’s commitment to new ways to protect and preserve our environment,” Boone said.

To check out the TDS Green School Solutions program and SMCISD progress, visit www.texasdisposal.com/green-school-solution/