Los Angeles & San Diego Ban Styrofoam

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Los Angeles & San Diego Ban Styrofoam

The cities of Los Angeles and San Diego are now taking the lead in banning the use of polystyrene (styrofoam) products due to their negative environmental impacts. What are the repercussions and benefits?

The cities of Los Angeles and San Diego have banned the use of polystyrene (styrofoam). Image is of a styrofoam coffee cup in algae filled water.
The cities of Los Angeles and San Diego have banned the use of polystyrene (styrofoam). Image: Pixabay

What actually is Polystyrene?

Polystyrene is a type of plastic used to make many products, including food containers, packaging, and insulation. It is made from a synthetic polymer called styrene, a highly processed petroleum product.

Polystyrene has been around for more than 100 years, but it has only become widely used in the last few decades. It is now one of the most common types of plastic, and it is used in various applications. Polystyrene is lightweight, strong, and inexpensive to produce. These properties make it an ideal material for many different types of products.

However, polystyrene also has some drawbacks. It is not biodegradable, so it can stay in the environment for centuries if not correctly disposed of. Additionally, polystyrene can be challenging to recycle because it is often contaminated with food or other waste materials.

Despite its drawbacks, polystyrene remains a popular choice for many products due to its low cost and versatile properties. However, there has been increasing public pressure to ban polystyrene products due to their environmental impact in recent years. Los Angeles and San Diego are two cities that have taken the lead in banning polystyrene products.

Los Angeles and San Diego’s Ban on Polystyrene

As of January 1, 2021, selling polystyrene products in Los Angeles and San Diego will be illegal. This ban includes both food service containers and packaging materials. The move to ban polystyrene is part of a larger effort to reduce the amount of plastic pollution in California’s waterways.

Polystyrene is a type of plastic that is not biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to decompose. When it eventually breaks down, it releases harmful chemicals into the environment. As it breaks apart, it creates microplastics which end up in our water sources and take hundreds of years to break down. Polystyrene products are a significant source of marine plastic pollution, as the highly bouyant product often washes down waterways and ends up in the ocean, where it can harm wildlife.

The ban on polystyrene products is expected to positively impact the environment and will help reduce the amount of plastic pollution in California’s waterways.

The ban on polystyrene products in Los Angeles and San Diego is enforced by the city government. Any business that uses polystyrene products must comply with the ban or face penalties. The city government also works with local businesses to help them find alternatives to polystyrene products.

The Benefits of the Ban

When it comes to polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam, most people think of those little white foam coffee cups. But polystyrene isn’t just limited to cups; it’s also used in packaging for take-out food, electronics, and other consumer goods.

Because polystyrene is made from petroleum, it is a non-renewable resource, and its production creates harmful greenhouse gas emissions. It’s not biodegradable, so it stays in the environment for hundreds of years. I have often hiked in wilderness areas, only to find old pieces of styrofoam in creeks and rivers that otherwise appear pristine. When you look closely, you will realize it is almost everywhere.

All of these factors make polystyrene an environmental nightmare. But there is some good news: Los Angeles and San Diego are leading the way in banning polystyrene products.

Here are some of the benefits of the polystyrene ban:

  1. Polystyrene will no longer pollute our oceans and landfills.
  2. Less polystyrene production will mean fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
  3. With less demand for polystyrene, manufacturers will be incentivized to develop more sustainable packaging materials, and alternative industries will flourish.

Los Angeles and San Diego have banned polystyrene products, setting an example for other cities to follow. The reality is that due to the huge base of consumers and the size of the marketplace there, manufacturers of all consumer goods will likely use alternatives across their product range regardless of the end market. Why would they make products that comply with the laws in one region and more polluting packaging in other markets?

The use of polystyrene has long had detrimental effects on the environment. Moving away from this material is a step towards sustainability and protecting our planet for future generations.

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