Compostable plates are first step for Urban School Food Alliance

The cafeterias at several schools in Miami are using plates made from sugar cane can be turned into compost. The New York Times says that plans are in the works at six large urban school districts for the compostable plates to replace plastic foam lunch trays for more than 2.6 million students--that would be 271 million plates a year. The plates are one of the initiatives of the Urban School Food Alliance, an attempt by the public school systems in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Orange County, Fla., and Dallas to create new markets for sustainable food and lunchroom supplies.