The Village of Patchogue is looking to take another step toward protecting the environment.
In a corresponding move with the plastic bag ban of 2016, the Village Board is mulling adopting legislation that would also ban Styrofoam products.
Update: Click link for a copy of the proposal
In November, GreaterPatchogue caught up with local leaders on the topic, back when it was a preliminary proposal.
“Styrofoam can’t be recycled and it’s non-biodegradable,” Village Trustee Joseph Keyes told GreaterPatchogue at the time. “It actually has a lifespan of over 500 years.”
Now the village is moving forward with potential action and is holding a public hearing on Monday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. in Village Hall to discuss the idea with residents.
What makes this expanded polystyrene foam so impossible to break down?
The answer Keyes has said, lies in the synthetic resin from which it’s made.
“It’s called expanded polystyrene, and it holds 57 different types of chemicals altogether,” says Keyes, also a member of the Protecting the Environment of Patchogue Committee.
The chemicals contain carcinogens the Environmental Protection Agency and the county Department of Health Services say are “very detrimental to our health and the environment,” including marine life, he had said.
Styrofoam products — especially plates and cups — are known for losing their original shape, so they typically can’t be used as a recyclable.
The solution on the local level is to replace Styrofoam with recyclable items that are better for the environment, according to Keyes.
For those who can’t attend, comments can be forwarded via email to village clerk Patti Seal: pseal@patchoguevillage.org,
Photo: Patchogue Village Trustee Joseph Keyes in Patchogue in November. (Credit: Alyssa Vera)
prior coverage:
Patchogue Village mulls law banning Styrofoam use at local businesses
