The Bay Area is a cradle of environmentalism and a region with a rich trove of health and medical research and resources. In this blog, we’ll report on the deepening understanding of how the places we inhabit and the lifestyles we adopt contribute to our own health and the health of our communities.
The Cities Association of Santa Clara County voted 10-0 Thursday to encourage its 15 city and town councils to adopt policies banning the unsustainable food containers at all city facilities and events, according to a news release.
The county's Recycling and Waste Reduction Commission drafted the proposal to help eliminate "hidden costs to our cities and direct costs to our environment," Santa Clara Councilwoman and commission chair Jamie McLeod said.
The association's decision is also meant to spur the region's cities to launch public education campaigns about the plastic material's harmful effect on local waterways and marine life.
"By moving forward together on this issue, our region's cities can reduce the amount of polluting EPS in our creeks and bay and demonstrate to Sacramento and Washington that they should again follow Silicon Valley's lead in promoting environmental sustainability," San Jose Councilman Sam Liccardo said in a statement.
Cities will also be encouraged to consider outlawing all EPS food and drink containers at businesses that sell food within their city limits.
© The Bay Citizen, 2012
Patrick Mitchell
Even McDonald's got rid of the last of their styrofoam packaging by 1990 (McDLT)...it's time to get rid of it everywhere.