Another good idea, they might take that award back and give it to me.


Polystyrene Foam Container Ban -

As of January 1, 1990, restaurants, grocery stores and other retail vendors have been prohibited from using polystyrene foam (PSF) containers for prepared food. The ban also applies to vendors who renew a lease or initially lease city space and activities that require a city permit (including for use of parks).

Other uses of foam, such as packing materials, florist supplies and construction materials, are not regulated by the ordinance.

In taking action, the Council indicated its concern with the following impacts of polystyrene foam food packaging:
Foam products are not biodegradable.
Projections indicate significant growth in the use of this material, particularly in disposable food containers and wrappers.
The nature of the material makes it a major contributor to litter.
When littered, the material is detrimental to wildlife that ingests it.
Paper products are biodegradable and can also be composted.
Polystyrene production can be very damaging to the earth's ozone layer.
Recycling of foam food containers is not practical.
The following may not be packaged in/on PSF:
Bakery products baked, assembled, packaged or prepackaged in the store.
Deli items dispensed from a larger container to a smaller container for the customer (e.g., salads, pasta).
Deli items assembled in the store (e.g., sandwiches).
Meats that have been cooked, smoked, sliced or otherwise prepared or served in the store (regardless of size of meat portion).
Cheese sliced in the store.
Fruits or vegetables washed, cooked, cut, squeezed or otherwise prepared in the store.
Dried fruits and vegetables packaged in the store.
Frozen yogurt or ice cream dispensed into containers for the customer at the store.
Coffee, tea, soft drinks or other ready-to-drink beverages served at the store.
Sample "tasting" foods prepared and served in the store.
Salad or other "bar" foods where the customer serves him/herself.
The following may be packaged in/on PSF:
Bakery goods that have been prepackaged outside of the store.
Deli items that have been prepackaged outside of the store.
Raw eggs.
Ready to cook items (e.g., stuffed potatoes, chicken Kiev).
Raw meat, including fish and seafood regardless of preparation in the store.
Uncooked or instant foods.
Fruits and vegetables that are delivered to the store already in the PSF package.
Meats smoked, cooked or otherwise prepared and packaged outside of the store, not repackaged in the store.
Unprepared fresh fruits and vegetables packaged in store for sale in units (e.g., box of mushrooms).
Beverages packaged outside of the store (e.g., New York Seltzers).

Jersey City should jump on this bandwagon


OAKLAND, Calif. -- A proposed strategy for reducing ocean litter calls for a statewide ban on foam food containers, fees for using plastic and paper bags, and making producers responsible for the collection and disposal of packaging.
The California Ocean Protection Council announced its plans (PDF) earlier this month and voted on actions for preventing and reducing waste that could end up in the ocean.
The state council also aims to change producer and consumer behavior with its three recommendations for reducing packaging waste: adopting extended producer responsibility, prohibiting certain items and charging fees for items that commonly become litter.
The concept of extended producer responsibility (EPR) makes producers physically and/or financially responsible for the collection and disposal of the items they make. The council points to the 33 countries in which EPR programs operate, noting that in the first four years of Germany's EPR program, packaging waste dropped 14 percent. Such programs encourage material reduction, lightweighting, switching to recyclable materials and the redesign of products and packages.
The council has also proposed a statewide ban on polystyrene take-out food containers and a fee for single-use plastic and paper grocery bags. San Francisco and six California counties have so far banned the use of polystyrene (commonly referred to as Styrofoam) food containers, and prohibitions on them exist in about another dozen cities.
San Francisco also prohibits the use of single-use plastic bags. The state council would first like to see a fee put in place in order to encourage the use of reusable bags. If that doesn't lead to less litter, the council feels other actions, including a ban, should be explored.
Retailers have implemented various bag strategies on their own, like Whole Foods Market cutting out plastic bags entirely, Marks & Spencer charging for plastic bags and IKEA charging for, and then getting rid of, plastic bags.
Lastly, the council recommends fees for items that lead to litter, but are not suitable for EPR or bans, such as cigarettes, the most common trash on beaches, according to the council.
Some of the council's plans are being opposed by a coalition of manufacturers and industry groups, including polystyrene makers and the American Chemistry Council. They are arguing against the proposed foam food container ban, saying that polystyrene is recyclable and that banning one of its uses would eliminate jobs in the state. The opposition is encouraging an expansion of recycling systems instead of a ban.
Although polystyrene, which carries the number 6 plastic symbol, is recyclable, the infrastructure for collecting and handing it is not as extensive as that for other types of plastic. In California, Los Angeles' recycling system takes it, but San Francisco does not. Some private recycling companies accept it, though some charge a fee for picking it up or for people to drop it off.
Plastic bags are also recyclable, but the council points out that fewer than 5 percent of the 19 billion grocery bags used in California each year get recycled.
One alternative to foam food containers is compostable materials, but those, too, requires the proper waste stream, like San Francisco's composting program, to effectively handle them.
The state council hopes its recommendations will guide future legislation and state policies. The council has focused its actions on reducing waste and litter at its source - producers and consumers - in order to prevent the creation of litter in the first place, and prevent the need for extensive cleanup efforts.