Several progressive communities across the country are already banning polystyrene in the form of Styrofoam cups, plated and carryout boxes, for example. Closest to home, Montgomery County implemented a phased-in ban on polystyrene products with the county government’s ban going into effect on Jan. 1 and a private sector ban implemented a year later.
Ocean City is considering following suit, although the process would likely be a long one and what the final product on a ban or increased regulation might look like is not entirely clear. Mayor and Acting City Manager Rick Meehan broached the subject this week during a subcommittee report from the Coastal Resources Legislative Committee, or Green Team.
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8 comments:
One of the big problems with styrofoam is the way the wind blows it out of trash containers, etc.
There is no shortage of wind in OC.
This is silly. If styrofoam and plastic water bottles are bad for the environment why are they even made in the first place. I for one wouldn't miss these things if they weren't manufactured. I'm so sick of hearing about recycling of these items too....here's an idea...don't buy this stuff.
Go bak to paper products.
It never degrades the country should ban it
OK. Here we go with the Enviro-Nazi foolishness locally. First we had to forego paper bags at the grocery to save the trees, so we were forced to switch to onionskin-thin plastic bags. Then, we were instructed by our betters that plastic harms the environment and we have to bring our own bags. Next we will be instructed that eating harms the environment, so the grocery stores must be closed entirely to save the planet. What right have we to live when mother earth is on the brink of annihilation?
As a side note, I bet research would reveal that trees, from which paper bags were made, when cut down will grow back if you plant a seedling.
There are ways you can fight back though. If push come to shove you can buy your own plastic bags at Sam's Club. I finally figured out why a few years ago dishes suddenly wouldn't get clean any more. Our Enviro-Nazis mandated that phosphates, i.e. the main cleaning agent in dishwasher detergent, must be removed to save the fishes or something. Well, no problem. Go to a big box home improvement store and get a box of TSP, Trisodium Phosphate, and manually add that back in. Works great. Dishes come out sparkly clean. Every time I do dishes I smile and think about sticking it to all the Enviro-Weenies singing Kumbaya around the campfire. Which by the way is bad for the atmosphere.
9:59 if you don't like it don't use it. don't tell me what I can and can't do. im tired of you progressives so why don't we ban you.
On September 22, 2015, the New York State Supreme Court overturned a ban on expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) foodservice items in New York City. The ban was initially instituted in accordance with Local Law 142, which called on the city to determine whether there was an economically feasible way to recycle foam and if not, allowed the city to ban the product. Though Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia and Mayor Bill de Blasio instituted the all-out ban, it appears that their judgment was misguided. Foam is recyclable, and New York City can now shift its focus to embracing a recycling program that would not only clean up the city, but would generate income.
“This decision is a victory for the environment and for New York City, which can now become a national leader in recycling by removing every piece of polystyrene from its waste stream—and making money in the process,” stated former City Councilman and head of the Restaurant Action Alliance Robert Jackson. “The judge has ended the debate about polystyrene recycling by making clear it can be recycled and there is a market for it. Now it’s time for the city to capitalize on this development. ”
Polystyrene foam is a valuable product in the recycling industry, as once it’s ground down, cleaned, and densified, it can be used for products ranging from surfboards and picture frames to architectural molding and building infrastructure. When New York City begins recycling foam, the city will benefit from its sale.
Starting up the recycling program should be easy. Dart Container Corporation, a leading manufacturer of polystyrene food service products, has offered to pay the full start-up price for a city-wide recycling program.
“Our offer to pay every dime of the start-up costs for recycling, and to ensure the city can sell its recycled product, stands,” said Michael Westerfield of Dart Container Corporation. “The victory here is for the environment and for recycling. We are eager to work with the city to get recycling started as soon as possible.”
Dart plans to cover the cost of sorting equipment, an expansion of its Indiana recycling facility for New York’s foam, and a five-year guaranteed price for the recovered polystyrene.
The foam ban, put into effect in January, was an easy one for Judge Margaret Chan to overturn. She said that the “one undisputed short answer to whether EPS is recyclable is yes: single serve EPS is recyclable.”
New York’s restaurants and take-out services alike can now rejoice. Foam is already known to be for more economically feasible for small business owners – it is, after all, two to three times less expensive than alternatives. As the city implements a comprehensive recycling plan, they too will reap the economic benefits.
At least the paper products degrade rather quickly and since no one in the hood has ever used a trash can it is far better than seeing plastic cup and styrofoam containers littering the streets for a hundred years.
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