Theresa Sullivan
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
Friday, March 8, News and Tribune showed pictures of many conscientious young women going through the trash at the Jefferson City High School to determine the trash contents. They are part of the Jefferson City High School Green Team Environmental Club. Their concern was the amount of single-use plastic foam and plastic products filling our landfills for the next 400 years. They also wanted to know how much food waste could be composted and how many items could be recycled if recycling bins were available for students to use.
The students want to replace plastic foam plates with biodegradable plates. However, biodegradable plates cost more. This is a major concern of environmentalists in that manufacturers of plastic foam are not covering the real cost of their products. Just as carbon remains in the air long after fossil fuels are used, plastic foam remains polluting our landfills for too many years. Manufacturers of these products should be paying for their environmental damage.
I commend these young members of the Green Team Environmental Club at JCHS. You make me glad to pay my property taxes.