Businesses Cold on Sytrofoam Ban

A Senate bill passed Thursday would ban styrene foam products — which often goes by the trade name Styrofoam — from restaurants and school districts, but the measure is meeting with opposition from local business owners.

"This is not the time you want to hinder business or create additional costs," Heidi Gallegos, executive director of the Regional Chamber of Commerce of San Gabriel Valley, said. "We all want a clean environment, but we don't believe the business community was engaged in the discussion to find if there are cost-effective alternatives or other ways to mitigate the impact (of styrene foam) to the environment."

Gallegos said the group will likely issue formal opposition after a vote at organization's next board meeting June 13.

The Senate bill, authored by Sen. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), passed with a bare majority vote and still needs to pass the Assembly and Gov. Jerry Brown's desk before becoming law.

Supporters of the bill take issue with plastic pollution in ocean and inland waterways — a danger they say is greater with foam products because of its ability to break down into smaller pieces.

A May 27 Los Angeles Times editorial supporting the bill made the argument that "the impact on eateries and consumers is tiny, while the cleanup of plastic ocean trash is imperative."

Statewide, a total of 50 municipalities have already voted to ban the use of foam containers, which supporters of the bill said sets an example and precedent for the rest of the state.

Despite concerns before (the bans) were put in place, (they) haven't caused the closure of restaurants or noticeably higher prices for takeout food. McDonald's, a bastion of low-priced food, led the way back in 1990, when it worked with the Environmental Defense Fund to overhaul its food packaging. Though the company still uses foam cups for hot beverages, paper wrapping and cardboard boxes replaced the old foam containers.

The LA Times editorial continues that biodegradable containers cost 50 percent more than foam containers on average, a matter of a few cents per container.

Gallegos said the added cost would be bad for business.

"Here we've got another Sacramento unfunded mandate that will affect business in this current economic climate," Gallegos said.

The statewide ban would be the first of its kind in the country, according to an ABC and Associated Press report.

Sen. Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar) voted against the bill Thursday.