Published: Thursday, May 20, 2010
Styrofoam on the way out?
Edmonds may join other cities in banning foam take-out containers
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Dan Bates / The Herald
Erve and Peung Chambers and their twin 4-year-olds, Anchalee (left) and Suwan eat lunch Wednesday at Toshi’s Teriyaki, 311 Main St. in Edmonds. Toshi’s serves all teriyaki in styrofoam containers. The majority of its business is take-out.
EDMONDS — Last year, the City Council made headlines when it became the first Washington city to ban plastic bags.
That ban takes effect in August.
Now, the council’s taking aim at what some environmentalists consider a similar scourge: polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam.
Council President Steve Bernheim has proposed banning restaurants from using the material, which many use in packaging take-out orders, leftovers and beverages.
Berhneim says Styrofoam, a lightweight, petroleum-based plastic, doesn’t break down in landfills and emits toxins when it’s manufactured.
“Nobody should look cross-eyed when you try to reduce the use of polluting, oil-based products,” he said.
Council members first discussed a ban on polystyrene foam at an early February retreat. They took up the issue again this week.
Bernheim says he expects the proposal to elicit less resistance than the plastic bag ban.
“To me, it’s an easier choice,” he told the council Tuesday.
Mayor Gary Haakenson says he expects as much support for the proposal as there was for the plastic bag ban.
“I think that with Styrofoam you’ll see the same amount of compliance as you do with plastic bags,” he said. “We’re not going to be out in businesses and restaurants checking … We’ll just hope they comply with whatever the council’s wishes are.”
The proposal, put forth in a draft ordinance, would also require business owners to either sign up for recycling service or make a recycling or composting container available to customers as an alternative to the garbage container.
Businesses under the proposal also would be encouraged to replace common plastic utensils with biodegradeable or compostable utensils, city attorney Scott Snyder said.
Compostable and biodegradeable material breaks down faster and is considered less harmful for the environment.
Violators would face a $150 infraction the first time and $300 for subsequent violations under the proposed ordinance.
Plastic foam used in prepackaged foods, such as instant ramen or meat trays, would be exempt, Snyder said.
The council also plans to give businesses at least a year to use up their existing inventories before they have to comply with any new rules. Exemptions would be considered.
A public hearing is expected to be held within the next two months before the council votes on a new law.
Councilman D.J. Wilson cautioned the council to make sure any new ordinance clearly spells out that substitute packaging be compostable, since many plastics are not recyclable or compostable.
“We don’t want to replace one bad with something that’s worse,” he said Wednesday.
Edmonds isn’t the first city to propose a ban on plastic foam.
Seattle restaurants will have to comply with a similar ban that is scheduled to start in July. A plastic foam ban in Issaquah is expected to kick off next October.
David Oh, an employee with Sushi Moto Japanese Restaurant, 22746 Highway 99, said his restaurant uses polystyrene foam.
He said the owners would like more information about alternatives.
“We would like to know more about it, really,” he said. “I understand people have been conscientious about switching. At the same time, it would be nice if they would let us know what type of alternative we could come up with or where to get it.”
Kathy Fletcher, executive director of the nonprofit People for Puget Sound, said plastic foam is bad for the environment because after it’s thrown out, it breaks into small pieces that animals eat.
“We have wildlife around here eating all manner of plastics, including Styrofoam,” she said.
Josh McDonald, a spokesman for the Washington Restaurant Association, said his group hopes to work with Edmonds leaders “in a cooperative manner to achieve the environmental goals they are striving for but at the same time take into account what it means to be a restaurateur.”
Oscar Halpert: 425-339-3429; ohalpert@heraldnet.com.
That ban takes effect in August.
Now, the council’s taking aim at what some environmentalists consider a similar scourge: polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam.
Council President Steve Bernheim has proposed banning restaurants from using the material, which many use in packaging take-out orders, leftovers and beverages.
Berhneim says Styrofoam, a lightweight, petroleum-based plastic, doesn’t break down in landfills and emits toxins when it’s manufactured.
“Nobody should look cross-eyed when you try to reduce the use of polluting, oil-based products,” he said.
Council members first discussed a ban on polystyrene foam at an early February retreat. They took up the issue again this week.
Bernheim says he expects the proposal to elicit less resistance than the plastic bag ban.
“To me, it’s an easier choice,” he told the council Tuesday.
Mayor Gary Haakenson says he expects as much support for the proposal as there was for the plastic bag ban.
“I think that with Styrofoam you’ll see the same amount of compliance as you do with plastic bags,” he said. “We’re not going to be out in businesses and restaurants checking … We’ll just hope they comply with whatever the council’s wishes are.”
The proposal, put forth in a draft ordinance, would also require business owners to either sign up for recycling service or make a recycling or composting container available to customers as an alternative to the garbage container.
Businesses under the proposal also would be encouraged to replace common plastic utensils with biodegradeable or compostable utensils, city attorney Scott Snyder said.
Compostable and biodegradeable material breaks down faster and is considered less harmful for the environment.
Violators would face a $150 infraction the first time and $300 for subsequent violations under the proposed ordinance.
Plastic foam used in prepackaged foods, such as instant ramen or meat trays, would be exempt, Snyder said.
The council also plans to give businesses at least a year to use up their existing inventories before they have to comply with any new rules. Exemptions would be considered.
A public hearing is expected to be held within the next two months before the council votes on a new law.
Councilman D.J. Wilson cautioned the council to make sure any new ordinance clearly spells out that substitute packaging be compostable, since many plastics are not recyclable or compostable.
“We don’t want to replace one bad with something that’s worse,” he said Wednesday.
Edmonds isn’t the first city to propose a ban on plastic foam.
Seattle restaurants will have to comply with a similar ban that is scheduled to start in July. A plastic foam ban in Issaquah is expected to kick off next October.
David Oh, an employee with Sushi Moto Japanese Restaurant, 22746 Highway 99, said his restaurant uses polystyrene foam.
He said the owners would like more information about alternatives.
“We would like to know more about it, really,” he said. “I understand people have been conscientious about switching. At the same time, it would be nice if they would let us know what type of alternative we could come up with or where to get it.”
Kathy Fletcher, executive director of the nonprofit People for Puget Sound, said plastic foam is bad for the environment because after it’s thrown out, it breaks into small pieces that animals eat.
“We have wildlife around here eating all manner of plastics, including Styrofoam,” she said.
Josh McDonald, a spokesman for the Washington Restaurant Association, said his group hopes to work with Edmonds leaders “in a cooperative manner to achieve the environmental goals they are striving for but at the same time take into account what it means to be a restaurateur.”
Oscar Halpert: 425-339-3429; ohalpert@heraldnet.com.
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