Suffolk Officials To Vote On Bills To Reduce Plastic, Styrofoam

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY - The Suffolk Legislature will be voting several proposed bills to reduce the amount of plastic and other non-biodegradable packaging across the county on Tuesday.

Officials will be choosing whether or not to approve a proposed ban on polystyrene foam (a.k.a Styrofoam) food service products as well as polystyrene foam loose fill packaging and a requirement for restaurants to provide straws only upon request.

If adopted, the proposals will prohibit eateries from offering cups, containers, trays and other disposable items made of Styrofoam.

It will also prohibit retail stores from selling these products and Styrofoam based packing materials to consumers.

A separate bill will require food establishments to provide biodegradable straws and stirrers by request only while disallowing plastic ones.

The proposals are being sponsored by Legislator Kara Hahn, who serves as the Single-Use Plastic Reduction Task Force’s Chairperson.

The proposed laws are meant to reduce the amount of plastic and non-biodegradable package from entering the waste stream.

In addition, officials will be considering two additional bills to prohibit the County’s park concessionaires from distributing single-use cups, plates, bowls, trays, utensils or beverage straws made from non-biodegradable substances, and to require products shipped to the County be packaged in material that is backyard compostable or biodegradable.

Both bills will apply to future contracts signed between the County and concessionaires.

What do you think? Are you for or against these proposed laws? Let us know in the comments below.