COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS : Cafeteria Stops Plastic Foam Use

Students concerned about the environment on the College of the Canyons campus in the Santa Clarita Valley have persuaded the privately run school cafeteria to halt the use of plastic foam.

Cafeteria manager Pedro Dalmau said that the change to biodegradable paper products took place earlier this month.

Members of the campus chemistry club recently researched environmental problems that can be caused by lightweight, cellular polystyrene that does not readily decompose in landfills. Club members then wrote to the Santa Clarita Valley Community College District Board of Trustees expressing their concerns. However, the board had not as yet addressed the issue.

“Rather than waiting to be asked, the cafeteria was gracious enough to volunteer to make the change,” club president Christopher A. Drap said.

In their letter to the board, club members wrote, “We feel very strongly about the environment and want to do what we can to protect it . . . .”

The letter cited the effects plastic foam has on the atmosphere and used Cal State Northridge’s recent switch to paper and plastic plates, bowls and cups as an example worth following.

Efforts last year to convince officials to make the change apparently fell through because of lack of support, Drap said. This year’s success may have been because of a group effort rather than an effort by individuals last year, he said.

“It is very exciting to know that we can do something like this,” Drap said. “It is very satisfying.”

Dalmau said that the cafeteria, operated by Nature’s Harvest, was ready to make the switch after ideas were thrown around last year. “Maybe other colleges will change to follow the example,” he said.