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Calif. shelves statewide polystyrene ban

SACRAMENTO Calif. Legislation that would have banned statewide the use of polystyrene foam and non-recyclable disposable foodservice containers has been shelved for this year by its sponsor because of concerns about the proposal’s impact on California’s economy.

Assembly Bill 1358, sponsored by Rep. Jerry Hill from San Mateo and Rep. Petro Nava from Santa Barbara, had passed the Assembly appropriations committee and was headed to a vote on the floor. Hill, however, pulled the legislation in June, citing fears that the negative impact on polystyrene manufacturers in the state could result in job losses, according to a Hill spokesman.

The goal of the legislation was to reduce the amount of nonbiodegradable plastic that ends up in the ocean and inland waterways, which environmentalists say has a toxic effect on marine life and humans.

Representatives of the California Restaurant Association, however, had met with Hill several times to express concerns that apolystyrene ban could force restaurant operators to raise prices at a time when consumers are holding tight to their wallets. Compostable and recyclable foodservice ware is generally significantly more expensive than polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam, restaurant operators say.

The bill would have made California the first state to ban the use of polystyrene for restaurant disposables. More than 30 cities and counties in California have already enacted partial or comprehensive bans.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected]

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