Banning Polystyrene  

I am very excited that we were able to pass the Sustainable Food Containers and Packaging Ordinance, and thank Green Newton for their efforts in helping pass this much needed ban protecting both our citizens and environment.  - Vicki

Posted on Wicked Local Newton (Newton Tab), Apr 25, 2019 

Source: https://newton.wickedlocal.com/news/20190425/letter-to-editor-banning-polystyrene  

On April 16, Newton city councilors passed the Sustainable Food Containers and Packaging Ordinance, a ban on restaurants using disposable plastic stirrers and foam polystyrene food containers, as part of an effort to eliminate single-use non-biodegradable plastics from the waste stream. Polystyrene is considered a serious chemical health hazard, and foam polystyrene food containers and plastic stirrers cannot be recycled under the current system. The measure, which will take effect in January 2020, will also ban retailers from selling or distributing disposable food containers made from polystyrene foam, as well as selling or distributing foam polystyrene packing material.

The proposed ordinance was docketed by Newton city councilors Vicki Danberg, Alison Leary, Susan Albright, Emily Norton, Deborah Crossley and David Kalis. Green Newton is especially grateful to Councilor Vicki Danberg for bringing together and leading a team of volunteers from our group to research the detrimental impacts of polystyrene on our community and build a persuasive case in favor of the ordinance. Green Newton board member, Sunwoo Kahng, also presented extensive research at city council committee meetings on how our community will reap environmental benefits after this ordinance goes into effect. Newton is proudly joining 32 cities and towns across 11 counties in Massachusetts that have already banned some form of polystyrene.

Marcia Cooper