In Plymouth, a variety of restaurants welcome many residents and visitors to town and if a Board of Health regulation banning the use of polystyrene takeout containers takes effect—some of those establishments will have to change the way they package take-out food. A public forum will be held on January 30th by the Board to discuss the matter and the town’s restaurateurs are expected to weigh in…this according to Plymouth Area Chamber of
Commerce Director Amy Naples. Bobbi Clark has more…
Amy Naples, who is Executive Director of the Chamber, says of area restaurant owners, they are receptive…
“They are very receptive. They are very understanding. They
understand that rules and regulations are in place for the betterment
of the community—certainly public health and environmental reasons.”
And Barry Potvin, who chairs the Board of Health, would agree that
there is a concern for the health of the public when food and Styrofoam come in contact..
“Whenever it’s in something that comes into direct contact with hot,
or even warm liquids or foods, it actually leeches something called
styrene, and the styrene is a known carcinogen which does increase
the cancer rates.”
Potvin says, the public forum scheduled for next month, could result in a regulation:
“In this case it could result in a banning of the use of Styrofoam and takeout containers by the Plymouth restaurants and food suppliers— with some delay so that their stocks can be used up.”
Naples encourages restaurateurs and those concerned to attend the public forum:
“Let them voice their concerns, voice their opinions. You know, we represent all businesses in town, but hearing from the restaurant owners themselves is most important. So the Board of Health really needs to hear from the restaurant businesses on how this may impact their business.”
The public forum is scheduled for January 30th in the Great Hall at Town Hall from 5 to 7PM. In Plymouth, Bobbi Clark, WATD News.
