List of cities banning polystyrene grows

San Jose, CA, has approved a ban on food and beverage containers made from polystyrene at large special events on city property, The San Jose Mercury News has reported. The municipality joins a growing list of communities, particularly on the West Coast, that have enacted legislation to eliminate or reduce the use of polystyrene packaging, which is used for many disposable foodservice cups, plates, and containers.

Many cities—among them Palo Alto, Pacific Grove, and Watsonville, CA, and Seattle, WA—have recently banned the use of PS by take-out foodservice operators. Some feel this puts a heavy burden on such businesses, during a time when the economy has already cut into their profits. They claim that alternatives—such as bio-based plastics—can be up to twice as expensive as PS product.

The communities that have enacted legislation claim the bans protect the environment, as polystyrene does not biodegrade in the landfill and is not easily recyclable. Meanwhile, other groups are implementing programs to recycle polystyrene. According to a report by the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers (AFPR), as reported by Earth 911, more than 65 million pounds of expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging were recycled in 2007, while the number grew to 69 million pounds in 2008.

It remains to be seen whether bans on the plastic or recycling programs will be more successful in meeting communities’ sustainability goals.