The school cafeteria recently removed the plastic wrappings and small tissues that came with the utensils, intending to reduce plastic waste. While this change is sustainable, it has many students worried about hygiene and safety.
Students have seen utensils left fully exposed in containers, without paper napkins like it once was. The change might appear eco-friendly on the surface, but many feel it comes at a high cost.
Senior Nafisa Nawshin sees the new cafeteria utensil setup as a health risk rather than an improvement. Stating, “Honestly, I was really disgusted,” Nawshin said. “I’ve seen kids lick the spoons and put them back, and even others who toughen and shove them back in the pile. It’s just too unsanitary.”
Nafisa Nawshin added that while she appreciates the idea behind sustainability, she’s worried about health risks in a crowded high school area. “Even if it’s better for the environment, is it really worth sacrificing health and safety?” Nawshin asked, “Especially after the pandemic, it’s just not smart.”
Junior Khandaker Akter expressed similar doubts, noting that although the new system hasn’t made getting utensils harder, it has made the process more unsettling. “It’s easy to spread germs with spoons just exposed to bacteria,” Akter said. “Students touch them or put them back. What if someone’s sick?”
Kahandaker Akter added that the broken utensils in the pile made her pick carefully now. She sees less plastic as semi-good for the planet. “They should’ve switched to different non-plastic options,” Akter suggested.
Senior Awa Diop was shocked when she first saw the spoons piled together without wraps. “The area is a mess, and students grab cutlery without care, leaving it disorganized,” Diop said. Hygiene worries make her extra cautious about touching any utensil.
Diop supports the green intent but not the reality. “It’s environmentally sustainable, but the issues with student comfort aren’t worth it,” she concluded
All three students agree the switch cuts plastic, a clear win for reducing waste. But in a busy high school cafeteria, exposed utensils invite germs from licking, touching, and dropping them back. Post pandemic caution makes the risk feel even higher.
