More than 30 cities and counties in California have passed some form of a ban on the use of polystyrene containers, and a new state law under consideration, AB 1358, would ban the use of polystyrene foam and non-recyclable food containers statewide.
The article contains an interview with Frank Liesman, assistant chief counsel for Dart Container Corp., who presents the food packaging industry's side of the argument:
"There hasn't been enough emphasis on the recycling of polystyrene foam due to market conditions and the low-cost of virgin resin to produce these products. However, as these issues have been raised -most especially in California-we at Dart have looked to establish an infrastructure, through our company's efforts and by working with our trade group, to have recycling as a more viable and available option to individual consumers and municipalities."
"We partnered with, for example, Tracy, California and Roseville, California, giving them commercial-sized densifiers that will allow them to compact and densify the foam that is dropped off by the citizens of those cities. In turn, we have made arrangements to find homes for that recycled foam. Now, this could be not only just food packaging of that foam, but if you buy a new T.V. or computer, for example, you will have some of that foam packaging in the box. A consumer or citizen in those cities can drop off that material in Tracy and Roseville. It will be densified, shipped off, and recycled into another product."
FULL STORY: Styrofoam Food Packaging Waste Stream Legislation Oversimplifies Issues, Recycling Options
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