In Plymouth, it’s possible that the use of polystyrene takeout containers could be banned—and this may be the result of a public forum scheduled by the Board of Health next month at Town Hall.
WATD’s Bobbi Clark has more…
Barry Potvin, who chairs the Board of Health, says that in addition to polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam, being an environmental problem because it cannot be recycled, it is a health hazard:
“The other problem with polystyrene and Styrofoam particularly, is that 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.”
And it’s not unheard of that people simply reheat the food in the polystyrene containers:
“It would be very harmful if you used those things and you actually reheated the food in the takeout container. That also means cups, plastic cups, that are made of Styrofoam. It is also a hazard then because it has already leeched into the stuff you’re going to consume.”
And what could be the result of the public forum next month?
“The net result could be, and often is, a regulation which the Board of Health discusses in an open public meeting and then incorporates into 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.”
The public forum is scheduled for January 30th, from 5 to 7 PM in the Great Hall at Town Hall. In Plymouth, Bobbi Clark, WATD News.
