Single-use plastics may soon become a thing of the past at schools in the Greater Essex County District School Board.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday night to develop a single-use plastics reduction committee, with a goal to create a one-to-three year phase-in-strategy.

The committee, which will include two trustees, will identify the most problematic areas and will make a school community awareness program.

Trustee Alan Halberstadt tells CTV News he hopes to be on the committee, saying the board is leading by example.

"There may be areas that we can ban it in our lunch rooms where we have plastic knives and forks," says Halberstadt. "So there is some low hanging fruit that we can get moving on it right away."

Single-use plastics are being phased out at the Greater Essex County District School Board.

Trustees have agreed to moving forward with a reduction strategy targeting items like plastic straws and bottles.

Board chair Jessica Sartori tells AM800 News a number of initiatives are already underway.

"Plastic water bottles have been banned in schools," says Sartori. "Our board of trustees actually passed a motion a couple of years ago that we would not use non-reusable containers for our own drinking water, looking into alternatives for single-use plastics as well."

The initiative is student driven.

Anderdon Public School students Addisyn Walker and Darragh Aston called for a board-wide ban of single-use plastics in May.