Sophomore Destiny Givens and freshman Dominich Comanse participate in an educational video to show the MHS student body new meal tray procedures. (Photo provided by Merrillville Community Schools)
Merrillville High School (MHS) cafeterias have both moved to using reusable meal trays because of the persistence of the MHS Environmental Club. According to a release from the school, the high school cafeterias had been using single-use Styrofoam meal trays with all of the other schools in the corporation using reusable meal trays. The club made a presentation in front of Trustees in January for their approval to make the change. On the very first day of the change, the amount of trash collected from meals went from 10 to three bags. The benefits of using reusable trays include saving money, reducing waste, saving the environment and protecting wildlife. MHS administrators estimate that the change to reusables will reduce waste by 50%.
