City council outlaws use of harmful pollutants in restaurants and retail stores
Editor's Note: Article edited at 5:54 p.m. on Dec. 18 to clarify facts.
On Monday, Nov. 10, the Takoma Park City Council passed a city-wide ban against the use of polystyrene eating-ware commonly found in many restaurants and retailers, making Takoma Park the first local government entity to pass a comprehensive ban against polystyrene. Polystyrene is a harmful, non-degradable pollutant found in popular eating ware containers such as Styrofoam cups, clam-shell boxes and plastic cups and lids.
The issue of polystyrene came to the attention of the city council five years ago, when the Young Activist clubs of both Piney Branch Elementary School and Takoma Middle School urged the city council against the use of polystyrene. The Young Activist Club focuses on social/environmental issues and their possible solutions.
Freshmen Margo Bloch and Emily Fox were in the third grade when they joined the Young Activist Club and when the club first started its work against polystyrene. The club focused on polystyrene because it noticed that its school trays were made out of the harmful substance. "We wanted to do something that we thought we could make a difference on," Bloch said.
In order to raise awareness against polystyrene, the Young Activist club testified to the City Council, sent emails and petitioned. The club also made a business pledge for Takoma Park businesses to sign that promised that they would not be using polystyrene. A number of businesses made the pledge. "We got [about] 25 businesses by this," Fox said.
As a result of the efforts of the Young Activist club and the efforts of city council member Seth Grimes, the ban didn't pass with much opposition. This surprised council members, such as Ward Two council member Tim Male. "Honestly, I thought there would be more [opposition] but there wasn't," Male said.
Those businesses which still serve polystyrene products will have six months to exchange them. According to Male, the associations which represent Takoma Park companies will inform the restaurants of the changes that need to be made. Businesses will only have to pay a half cent more per package to afford non-polystyrene materials. Male also said that the council is counting on Takoma Park residents to report the businesses still using polystyrene after the law goes into effect.
According to the Gazette, Takoma Park is the first local government entity to pass a comprehensive ban against polystyrene. Other areas in the country to pass such a ban include Washington DC, New York City and Seattle. Montgomery County is considering a polystyrene ban as well.
Male explained that the collaborative nature of this ban highlights the spirit of Takoma Park. "Takoma Park is a small place. It doesn't take many people to do some good," he said.
Aidan Keys. Aidan writes feature stories and has a beautiful mane of wild hair. She has a cat named Cleo and enjoys learning Portuguese and Spanish for fun. Usually is listening to music, but sometimes she plays it on her violin or her cello. More »
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