Many trays remain untouched as the lunch bell rings, students gather their things to go back to class. The majority of that food ends up in the trash can.

The problem with food waste is not new here at Clover Hill; both students and staff recognize this issue and have input on how to solve this crisis. Sophomore Marlo Wheeler, recognizes the food waste problem at Clover Hill. As a student here, she thinks that students should be more grateful for the food they receive. 

“I think that kids get their lunches and only get them to just get them. They don’t actually eat their lunches, and they just throw them away,” Wheeler said. “That’s very wasteful and bad for the environment. There are starving kids and I think we should be grateful for the food we receive, even if it is not up to our own personal standards. If we do not like the food we should just not buy it.”

Wheeler has a solution to the food waste issue and thinks that Clover Hill should take action. Getting this perspective from a student is a gateway to changing and fixing the problem. 

“The cafeteria should get input from students as to why they throw away their food and if the students think the food is bad then they should accept ideas for different meals to serve,” Wheeler said. “Clover Hill should take action on the issue because they are losing money and people may be going hungry because of this.”

Janitor Tiffany Beach, believes that the food waste issue has always been a big problem. She knows that students are required to take a fruit or vegetable and that most of the time students do not eat their choice. 

“It has always been a big deal with throwing away food. Unfortunately, once you guys take it, it kind of can’t be put back. So it is kind of like, either get it [and] throw it away, or just don’t get nothing at all,” Beach said. 

Beach thinks that to stop the issue all schools would have to ban together. All of CCPS as a whole has had the same problem with food waste. 

“A solution could be being more mindful of the food when you go in the cafeteria, you know, don’t pick up or put something on your tray if you are not going to eat it,” Beach said. “Clover Hill should and should not take action on this issue because we want to be a good example, but I think it would take every school to band together to come up with a solution and make an actual impact.”

Students and staff have something to say about the food waste problem, and they hope that it will change over time.