California Now Wants to Ban Your Styrofoam Containers
- Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:15pm by
Liz Klimas
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You can put your left overs in it. Keep your take out hot in it. Hold your drink in it. Pack your shipments in it. Put your lunch on it. You can even insulate your roof with it. But if California has it’s way, you will soon have nothing to do with it.
The “it,” if you haven’t guessed: Styrofoam. But only your Styrofoam containers are up for the ban at this point.
The bill, by Democratic state Sen. Alan Lowenthal, would prohibit restaurants, grocery stores and other vendors from dispensing food in expanded polystyrene containers, commonly known as Styrofoam, beginning in 2016. If signed into law, the measure would make California the first to institute a statewide ban on such containers. More than 50 California cities and counties already have similar bans.
The bill would exempt school districts and city and county jurisdictions if they implemented programs that recycled more than 60 percent of their foam waste.
Lowenthal said litter from the foam containers is one of the most abundant forms of debris found in city streets, sewers and beaches.
“It’s not biodegradable, it’s not compostable, and if it’s in the water for a long time, it breaks up into small beads and lasts for thousands of years. It costs millions to clean up beaches,” he said
Opponents of the bill, however, say the move could cost business owners a lot of money, and it also doesn’t really address littering.
The Associated Press reports business owner Gary Honeycutt as saying the proposed ban would cost him thousands of dollars. And the biodegradable stuff? Doesn’t cut the mustard — or in his case cheese.
“We put cheese on those omelets. And when we put the cheese on, it’s really hot and bubbly and it goes right through the biodegradable stuff,” he said.
Others say the bill fails to address the root cause of litter — the litterers themselves. Litterbugs will toss out the containers whether they’re made of polystyrene or biodegradable cardboard, said Michael Westerfield, corporate director of recycling for Dart Container.
“At the end of the day, people that litter don‘t care what type of product they’re littering,” he said.
The California Chamber of Commerce has labeled the measure as one of its “job-killer bills,” saying it threatens manufacturing jobs while increasing costs for restaurants that will have to spend more on alternative containers.
And while Styrene, a chemical used to make the foam containers, was listed as “reasonably anticipated” to be a human carcinogen in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ June report on carcinogens,John Bucher, associate director of the National Toxicology Program, a division of the federal agency, disagrees: “The risks, in my estimation, from polystyrene are not very great. It’s not worth being concerned about.”
Tim Shestek, senior director of state affairs at the American Chemistry Council, agreed and said concern about negative health effects “is not supported by scientific information.” The group, based in Washington, D.C., is lobbying against the bill.
As Gawker points out, California has been on the ban-happy bandwagon these days, attempting to ban use of plastic bags, circumcision and successfully banning McDonald’s Happy Meal toys.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(H/T Gawker)
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Comments (125)
olddog
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:48pmLast month they banned flat sheets which really made me mad, have you ever tried to wear a fitted sheet to a meeting? Crazy
Report Post »I’m positive if they use a different type of food container it will stop the litter completely. Also everyone will be more healty, richer and smarter, and if you drive it will make you be able to park you car in a smaller space. All these benefits for removing styrofoam. Now if they ban fruits and nuts California really would be a wonderfull place…..
cessna152
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 4:21pmMaybe they can ban breathing to limit carbon monoxide…for liberals only.
Report Post »rawhide
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 4:39pmStates can do what ever they like. That’s the beauty of our system. It’s the Federal Government that is supppose to be limited. You don’t like the rules in your State, then you can move. The idea is that the State will eventually figure out why people are leaving and correct it.
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:18pmBan them already ! How did we get buy before them? Try to help keep the world clean in smart little ways! Use the paper boxes like Mcdonnels ! I have 5 kids I want to leave them as clean a world as I can ! Also clean up the water ! Stop T BONE pICKINS FROM PUMPING all the fresh water out of the
Report Post »US water shell and selling it to cities for big bucks!( Perry helped him do this )
Put a God Smack on MONSANTO ! STOP THEM FROM PATENING ALL FOOD SEEDS. STOP THE SUICIDE GEEN ! tHERE ARE bIG Multi National Copanies doing severe damage. ….
..At the cost of all common people Everyone Wanting to try to do something Are not Tree hugging loons……………I’m not a Global Warming person ! But lets cut down on the Garbage & clean the water
chazman
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 5:42pm… let’s ban California …
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 6:04pm, sounds more like an attack on the millionaire who invented these containers, that’s just me though…
Report Post »Sheepdog911
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 6:16pmI guess that I’ll just have to starting importing them from Arizona. Will I now have to declare them to some California Customs official? Will the be confiscated if I’m caught will illicit styrofoam articles? May there’ll be a black market for smuggled styrofoam.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 6:22pmI think this is a very good idea, because like many others, I would higly prefer that my fast food come in a paper container, made from old growth California Redwood trees…..mmmm mmmm….tasty!!
Report Post »chazman
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 9:33pm… ya know, in the San Fran bay area there are so dam many seals that people can’t walk on the docks to get to their boats. The dam things WILL bite you! Let’s make use of them … let‘s use their skin’s for our T.V. trays, footwear, head gear, gloves, etc, etc., and export what we don’t use to China.
Report Post »CA politicians and bureaucrats forget who the boss is, and it‘s ’We The People!’ They had better remember that, and start doing as they are told … same with you, OBAMMY!!!
AOL_REFUGEE
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 11:04pm[rawhide
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 4:39pm
States can do what ever they like. That’s the beauty of our system. It’s the Federal Government that is supppose to be limited. You don’t like the rules in your State, then you can move. The idea is that the State will eventually figure out why people are leaving and correct it.]
Hey, Rawhead:
You’re either not serious or not sane. Move, then move back when the issue is ‘corrected’? That’s an awful lot of trouble for a lot of poeple to go to for the sake of imbecile politicians.
That‘s the ’beauty’ of the system? That’s the idiocy of the system. Wake up and quit voting for idiots.
Report Post »AOL_REFUGEE
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 11:10pmSen. Alan ‘Arsewype’ Lowenthal just wants to make a name for himself with this brilliantly idiotic idea.
As you can see from the above, he has.
“California, rust in peace…”
Report Post »Anadara
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 11:52pmWell crap. Now we will un-Happy Meals and my poor ole pooch will have to eat leftover burgers from a paper bag. …Hike a leg, rover. Let ‘em know how you feel bout that.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 1:41pmCalifornia is going to keep piling burdens on top of business until the entire state collapses in on itself. It’s governmental forces will become so strong, not even light will be able to escape the state.
Report Post »STUBBYK
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 5:47pmCalifornians can cure all their ills by one simple step: Ban all libs! They’ve ruined one of the most beautiful states in the country. List all the libs in the state and fed govt and you’l be able to see why Ca.(and the country) is failing.
Report Post »wampanoag
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:48pmAbout time to ban all polluting plastic garbage. Biodegradable packaging makes much more sense.
Report Post »Applehead
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 4:12pmNuts! Does Glenn’s friend Huntsman make this stuff? Although I agree its ridiculous I feel like this website I like is nudging me!!!
Report Post »RIGHT2ARMBEARS
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 6:56pmThey banned plastic bags in the grocery stores… oh, wait, no… now they’re SELLING THEM TO YOU.
Report Post »Seriously. 10 cents each. So if they really cared for the environment, why allow them to be sold?
Homeschoolmama
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 2:31amRight2armbears@
Report Post »They do the same thing with vehicle smog checks. You can’t put a new engine in an old truck if its not the exact same part number as what came out of it. For example a Chevy 350 small block in a CJ7 Jeep. Even though the new engine would not pollute more. If they are really worried about the environment then why is it not just the amount of whatever they’re measuring coming out of the tailpipe. The parts on the vehicle shouldn’t matter. The reason is because its about money instead.
boca_chica
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:48pmWhat happened to the carboard container used 20 years ago? They have to make rules now because they were not smart enough to do it years ago. We recycled more in the 1950′s than we do now( paper bags, soda and beer in re-usable glass bottles…etc..the list goes on-plus everyone goes to the grocery store and can carry them to THAT central clearing house-the M/T trucks can also haul the M/T containors back with them) We have become such a “must have it now” people that we waste time and money to get something 2 seconds faster. Ever been to a landfill? Go look at what is thrown away sometime.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:53pmThey made us swap from paper to plastic to be green, these green morons haven’t got a clue how to keep their own butts clean, much less what’s good for the environment.
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:46pmAhhh, to be drunk with power. California is going to regulate itself right out of existence ( I‘m not saying that’s a bad thing ). You can regulate peoples lives only so far before they start pushing back.
One needs only to look to the M.E. to see how that turns out.
Report Post »wkw58
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:46pmHey California, please secede.
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:56pmWe’re working on it. Keep watching those planes fly overhead buddy.
Report Post »ClockKing
Posted on August 30, 2011 at 11:34pmTo hell with succession, I want to kick California out of the Union. We should sell them back to Mexico.
Report Post »AlmostaCowboy
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:46pmBan, regulate, censor, tax – the 4 cornerstones of Progressivism.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:49pmWhwn will they ban dark-skinned, non-english speakers?
Report Post »king1
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:42pmwhen we have to bailout california they need to lose statehood cause its there stupid laws that is bankrupting them somehow they need to come to reality
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:58pmIs there anyway that you can help us seceed? We’d appreciate it.
Report Post »TX_45_ACP
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 4:06pm@THIS_INDIVIDUAL
Report Post »No, you guys are doing all by yourselves. Good luck.
TX_45_ACP
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 4:15pmTruth be told, I love California. (just not the politics) Lived there for a while. Not all fit the typical stereotype.
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 4:26pmTrue TX, but these generalizing morons here are just too much sometimes.
Report Post »momsense
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:41pmHow about we ban Californication?
Report Post »evilhatemonger
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:40pmI‘m glad to see CA has solved all of it’s other problems and has time to focus on issues like these.
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:40pmbe good lil calif lemmings and listen to what your progressive white slaves tell what to do..
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:59pmRead a book, you moron!
Report Post »TX_45_ACP
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:39pmThese guys crack me up. Who are they fooling besides a few libs? California is the prime example of how to NOT do things, politically speaking. If they are for it, you should generally be against it. It’s that simple.
Report Post »DallyWama
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:38pmMy advice. Get OUT of California if you can. Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma (to name a few) are much better places to live and raise a family.
In 20 years Cali will be an extension of Tijuana, third world at its finest.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:38pmCalifornia needs to be banned they’re a threat to the republic! liberty & freedom,and they simply need more regulations to create the utopia these simpletons think is right around the corner,if only we could regulate and control the populace completely,the Marxists wet dream.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:37pmAnd replace styrofoam with what?
Report Post »Sicboy
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:39pmYou go Cali, keep voting Dem…
Report Post »HKS
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:54pmUh, trees.
Report Post »Spqr1
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:29pmWhat? There are retrogrades still using this stuff?
Report Post »JRook
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:28pmI thought the “new” styrofoam was biodegradable and didn’t last forever in the land fills. If they are speaking of the old stuff then by all means it needs to be banned from use. There are more than a few good replacements that are effective and more responsible. Heck I’m sure it is all made in China now anyway, so what jobs are going to be affected?
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:27pmCalifornia needs more regulations more more more, regulate all their businesses out of business.THEY ARE INSANE.
Report Post »Bonnieblue2A
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:26pmMeh.
Report Post »coryf076
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:26pmgood idea….so many better options out there than styrofoam.
Report Post »Elena2010
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:26pmOh well, in that case, let’s just kill all small restaurant businesses!
Where did the middle of the road and moderation go?
Report Post »Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:40pmIt went far far right, buddy.
Report Post »AlmostaCowboy
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:44pmThey started the real death knell last year by passing the Restaurant Kitchen Safety Act that will require every kitchen worker to undergo a “state approved” safety training course……..to the tune of approximately $2500 per employee.
How did Americans survive without “the (nanny) state” for the last 200 years?
Report Post »Husteak
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:25pmThe city of Seattle did this a couple of years ago.
The Government grows, and Liberty is lost…..
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:22pmWonder what unexpected consequences will come from this? Liberals never think things through, that’s why abortion is always their favorite form of birth control.
Report Post »sarahchar09
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:21pmDang, Californa must be doing really well if they are spending so much time and effort on bills to ban styrofoam. I mean they cant be having any “real” problems if this is their main concern…….
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:21pm“Lowenthal said litter from the foam containers is one of the most abundant forms of debris found in city streets, sewers and beaches.”
Hey dumb dumb it is your liberal friends who litter. I have always been taught to clean up after myself, you liberal elitist and bums think other people are there to clean up after you. Thus you make the mess, you guys need to clean it up.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:30pmThey have union drones to clean up,overtime time and a half,two hour lunch break,and no show jobs.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:40pmDon’t forget the union-condoned happy hour, too.
Report Post »Ookspay
Posted on August 29, 2011 at 3:18pmGo for it, we plan on banning you too!
Report Post »