Here are the facts about BANNING STYROFOAM IN CALIFORNIA. SUPPORT SB568!
SB 568 (Lowenthal)
Polystyrene Food Containers
As Amended 5/24/2011
Background Sheet
Purpose
To help mitigate the detrimental effects polystyrene is having on our waterways, storm drains and marine life.
Summary
SB 568 would prohibit a food vendor or restaurant on or after January 1, 2014 from dispensing prepared food to a customer in a polystyrene foam food container (a.k.a. Styrofoam). The compliance date for public schools is July 1, 2015.
The bill would also allow a school district that has a verifiable recycling program and recycles more than 60% of its foam foodware to continue to dispense food in foam after the ban goes in effect.
The bill would also allow a jurisdiction (City or County) to continue dispensing food in foam foodware if it adopts an ordinance establishing a recycling program for foam foodware containers and at least 60% of the foam food containers would be recycled.
Background
Expanded polystyrene foam (EPS), commonly known as Styrofoam, is pervasive in the marine environment. Like most plastics, polystyrene is lightweight and floats. When littered, it is carried from streets and through storm drains out to the ocean.
60-80 percent of all marine debris and 90 percent of floating debris are plastic. A study of beach debris at 43 sites along the Orange County coast found that EPS was the second most abundant form of beach debris.
In the environment, the containers break down into smaller and smaller pieces and are easily mistaken for food by marine animals.
EPS is not biodegradable.
The value of biodegradable food service packaging is two-fold, in that (1) institutional
users can incorporate the packaging into new small-scale food composting collection systems without the labor and expense of separating the container from the food and (2) if the material is improperly disposed of blows out of trash cans, the negative impact on wildlife and storm drain systems is minimized with the material biodegrades.
There is virtually no meaningful food service EPS recycling in California. Because EPS foodware is contaminated from food residue, recycling is very limited. Food service EPS by its nature only has a useful life that can be measured in minutes or hours. Yet it takes centuries for it to decompose in a landfill if at all.
47 jurisdictions in California including Alameda, San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, Marin County, and Santa Cruz County have all successfully banned EPS. All of these jurisdictions’ food vendors provide their take out in alternative packaging including, paper, plastic, compostable materials, aluminum foil etc.
It is important to create a statewide policy and uniformity regarding this nuisance form of litter and marine pollution.
Dangers of Polystyrene Foam
Workers in polystyrene products manufacturing are exposed to many harmful chemicals, including Styrene, Toluene, Xylene, Acetone, Methyl Chloride, and Methyl Ketone. Occupational exposure to styrene increases risk of lymphoma, leukemia, lung tumors, pancreatic cancer, urinary bladder cancer and other cancers. High rates of neurotoxicological effects have been reported in workers.
Public health is also impacted by the use of all polystyrene food containers. Styrene can migrate from polystyrene containers into food and beverages when heated or in contact with fatty or acidic foods. Styrene residues are found in 100% of all samples of human fat tissue. Styrene is a carcinogen in lab animal testing, a potential human carcinogen and a neurotoxin.
Additional Resources
Local Ordinances Banning Polystyrene Containers
Californians Against Waste
http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/plastic_campaign/polystyrene/local
Facts and Research about Polystyrene and Styrofoam Litter
Clean Water Action California
http://www.cleanwater.org/ca
Support
Sponsor: Clean Water Action
Miriam Gordon, Ph# 415-369-9170
Cosponsor: Surfrider Foundation
Angela Howe, Ph# 949-492-8170
Staff Contact
Meegen Murray:
916-651-4812 / Meegen.Murray@sen.ca.gov
Version: May 26, 2011
