Why refuse to use Styrofoam?
Styrofoam (polystyrene) food containers are NOT recyclable and NOT compostable. We use them for 10 minutes, and they end up in our landfills where they last 500 years. They never fully biodegrade but just break up into smaller and smaller pieces. These pieces end up in our rivers and oceans where fish, birds and turtles eat them thinking they’re food. Styrofoam pollutes our fish, our food chain and was recently discovered in bottled water from around the world. Riverkeeper identifies Styrofoam pieces as the most common pollutant in the Hudson River. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2050 the oceans will have more plastic than fish unless we can turn our habits around.
It’s a probable human carcinogen
According to the Report on Carcinogens, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2016, "Styrene is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen." International research shows the leaching of styrene into food and beverages from Styrofoam containers occurs.
It’s poisoning our environment and burdening our landfills
In 2016 the Albany County Department of Health supported the ban stating that it recognized "the potential environmental impact and benefit of reducing the non-biodegradable waste burden in landfills."
It’s not worth recycling
On June 5, 2018 the NYS Supreme Court upheld the NYC Styrofoam ban, deciding that NYC had proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that recycling Styrofoam is not "economically feasible nor environmentally sound."
Some of these will save you $$$:
Webstaurant Store: https://www.webstaurantstore.com/restaurant-disposable-supplies.html. Excellent variety, pricey shipping.
Eco-Products: https://www.ecoproductsstore.com/. Here you'll find compostable paper (bagasse, wheatstraw etc.) and bio-plastics.
Mr. Take Out Bags: https://www.mrtakeoutbags.com/store/sbt-green-packaging.html.Good deals on compostable sugar cane clamshells and PLA plant-plastic salad bowls.
PJPMarketPlace:https://www.pjpmarketplace.com/eco-friendly-green-restaurant-supplies/eco-friendly-disposable-restaurant-supplies/eco-friendly-to-go-take-out-food-containers.html. Check out Genpack’s large and small compostable clamshells here.
GreenPaperProducts: https://greenpaperproducts.com/ Earthchoice Brand clamshells.
EnviroTakeOut.com: https://envirotakeout.com/ Good deals here on 9x9inch compostable clamshells
Lollicup Store: https://lollicupstore2.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=compostableFor compostable paper cups at good prices. Karat Earth brand.
Brandless.com: https://brandless.com/search/compostables. For smaller quantities
WB Mason: Local distributor of supplies. They offer foam alternatives such as containers made of sugarcane (bagasse), bamboo, wheat straw, molded fiber, plus aluminum and plastics. Contact: Margaret.Mondou@wbmason.com, 518-421-0314.
Dart – Local distributor: https://www.dartcontainer.com/search?q=compostables. Although the largest manufacturer of polystyrene foam in the world, Dart Container Corp also has compostables/recyclables.
Restaurant Depot: Located on 22 Warehouse Row in Albany 518-458-1630. Has paper alternatives, uncoated plates and Chinet. Must be business owner to shop here.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
On 8/13/18, the Albany County Legislature voted 23 to 13 in favor of Local Law L/No. 4 which establishes a comprehensive ban on the use of disposable polystyrene - often called Styrofoam - for all restaurants, stores and food service establishments including soup kitchens and homeless shelters. This law expands the 2013 partial ban for food service establishments with 15 or more locations. On September 12, 2018 County Executive Dan McCoy signed the ban into law and extended it to apply to all those who contract with Albany County.
✔ The polystyrene ban applies to plastic foam single use food service products including bowls, plates, cups, clamshells, cartons, trays or other items used for packaging foods, for customers to eat food upon, for take out and for leftovers.
✔ It does notapply to foam packing materials, peanuts or wrapping materials.
✔ The ban includes all restaurants and all food service establishments permitted by Albany County Department of Health, including but not limited to: schools, senior feeding sites, mobile vendors and temporary food service vendors who have received permits to operate for festivals and special events. It also includes not-for-profit organizations serving meals on a daily basis.
✔ The ban does not include non-profit organizations that sell food at fundraising events incidental to their primary purpose.
✔ Single use food service products must be either:
✔The enforcement agency is the Albany County Department of Health. Contact: 518-447-4620
✔ Violations: First offense up to $250, 2nd offense up to $500, 3rd offense – misdemeanor and up to $1000 fine. The Albany County Department of Health may grant a waiver for proven economic hardship or other factors that render compliance unreasonable.
For ideas on how to further reduce your waste stream, email ZeroWasteCD@gmail.com