Biodegradable cafeteria trays get approval in Maryland school district

July 10 — Public schools in Howard County, Md., will swap out the foam trays used in cafeterias for biodegradable trays in the upcoming school year, on the heels of a successful campaign from a Howard County high school student.

Rhea Malik, 17, lobbied the school system for two and a half years to make the switch to more environmentally-friendly trays, after learning that the millions of polystyrene trays used annually in school cafeterias ended up in the landfill, where they don't biodegrade.