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Hayward’s New Ban on Styrofoam: Good or Bad?

The Hayward City Council voted unanimously in favor of passing an ordinance to eliminate polystyrene foam, also known as Styrofoam, from restaurants on October 19,

The ban came as city officials were under pressure from local environmental groups while the California Restaurant Association and Chamber of Commerce opposed the ban, according to the Oakland Tribune.

The city is giving restaurants within Hayward city limits until July 2011 to get rid of all Styrofoam and replace them with biodegradable plates, bowls and boxes.

Restaurants will be cited if they do not follow the ban’s constraints.

Styrofoam has negative environmental impacts, such as toxicity to marine life.

The Department of Health and Human Services has also stated that Styrofoam has large amounts of benzene, a known carcinogen.

Despite the known effects of Styrofoam on the environment and humans, the recent ban came under opposition from many Hayward restaurant owners.

Restauranteurs on the day of the vote complained publicly that they can’t afford to buy biodegradable items and it is better to use Styrofoam since it is affordable.

The city of Hayward estimated that the ban would increase costs by 150 to 250 dollars a month.

The California Restaurant Association said it wants the ban to be put on hold until the economy improves.

Lara Dunbar, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, had stated that the C.R.A. believes the ban, “doesn’t address the true problem of littering.”

Biodegradable plates, cups and boxes are significantly more expensive than Styrofoam and have also been known to melt very quickly when in contact with heat. This will make restaurant owners pay even more for recyclable products.

Many residents feel that the positive effects that this will have on the environment outweigh the negative effects this will have on the economy.

“We don’t have any need for Styrofoam,” said CSU East Bay student Dongjin Kim. “It’s messing up the environment and there are many other affordable alternatives that restaurant owners can use instead so we can protect the environment yet not hurt the restaurants.”

CSUEB student Kevin Wang has a similar outlook on the situation.

“These restaurant owners simply need to just raise the price of their meals,” Wang said. “If it’s going to effect the environment they just need to make sacrifices.”

Hayward is currently one of the last cities in Alameda County to pass the ban. Berkeley passed the ban on Styrofoam more than 20 years ago. Oakland, Fremont, Albany and Emeryville quickly followed suit.

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Hayward’s New Ban on Styrofoam: Good or Bad?