Lake Travis ISD began using eco-friendly plates and cutlery at the start of the 2016-17 school year.[/caption]

Beginning at the start of the school year, all cafeterias in Lake Travis ISD are using biodegradable and recyclable plates and cutlery.

LTISD is the first school district in the state to use the five-compartment, eco-friendly black plate and cutlery made by Trellis Earth on a daily basis, said Traci Miller, the district’s director of food and nutrition services. The school district is also using straws, napkins and utensil packaging made from recycled materials.

“This is the most inexpensive way for us to go way more green for the amount of trash that we generate,” she said. She estimates the new plates will cost about $6,000-$7,000 more than the previous plates the district was using, with each new plate costing 1.5 cents more.

Miller said she has been active in finding a more green solution since she started working at LTISD 4 1/2 years ago.

She said she used the plates at Serene Hills and Lakeway elementary schools to gather feedback from students, who said they loved the items.

Miller said 80 percent of students in the district buy their meals from LTISD.