Page 32 - Plastics News September 2017

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

US Industry opposes 2nd EPS ban in New York

group of restaurants, recyclers and manufacturers has for New York City."
A fi led a suit in State Supreme Court, which is New York's
The city argued that food service foam collected for
trial-level court to block New York City's second attempt
recycling can be "worthless" when it arrives at recycling
to ban expanded polystyrene food service packaging.
facilities because it's covered in food residue and breaks
New York City is set to ban EPS foam packaging starting
into small bits. It also said it can be hard to fi nd buyers
in November, arguing that while the material may be
for the material as well. But the businesses argued that
technically recyclable, it's not cost effective for the city
the city cherry-picked information and said the city
to do so.
was making "false claims that polystyrene foam is not
But the coalition of businesses argued that the city is recyclable." They argued that the ban would cost the
fl outing a 2015 New York state court ruling that overturned city $11.2 million annually in added procurement costs
the city's previous ban, and said the material can be for plastic foam substitutes, and said a recycling program
recycled effectively. "The de Blasio administration should proposed by Dart Container Corp. would save millions of
comply with the dollars in avoided landfi ll costs and generate millions in
court's directive, revenue. "Once again, New York City is ignoring the facts
drop its latest that prove polystyrene foam can be recycled — a denial
m i s g ui de d that is costing the city a signifi cant economic windfall
attempt to ban through a combination of recycling revenue and landfi ll
soft foam and avoidance," said Alan Shaw, president of EPS recycler
implement the Plastics Recycling Inc. of Indianapolis, in a statement.
comprehensive
recycling Sri Lanka bans plastic
p r o g r a m
proposed and shopping bags
financially
supported by he Sri Lankan government has banned the use
industry participants," said Randy Mastro, lead attorney Tand manufacture of plastic shopping bags with
for the business group, in a statement. immediate effect. Accordingly, the manufacture of
food containers, plates, cups and spoons made from
"Indeed, a comprehensive program recycling all
expanded polystyrene has also been banned for use,
polystyrene will be more environmentally effective and
reports Xinhua news agency.
economically feasible than a limited soft foam ban alone,
saving the city millions of dollars in landfi ll costs, and The Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority,
protecting the many smaller restaurant businesses that Lal Mervin Dharmasiri, told the media that the ban
depend upon cost-effective soft foam food-service items followed a proposal by President Maithripala Sirisena.
to survive," he said. Accordingly the cabinet agreed to ban the production
of polythene less than 20 microns. Polythene and
The group fi led suit in State Supreme Court, which is New
Styrofoam is used by local shops to wrap lunch.
York's trial-level court. The highest court in New York state
Polythene bags will be replaced with reusable cloth
is called the Court of Appeals. The business group argued
bags under the new law, the CEA said. Sri Lanka's
that EPS alternatives would cost the city's businesses and
polythene manufacturers said 345,000 employees
consumers $51 million a year, and said they can be worse
would lose their jobs. The government said although
for the environment in emitting green gases and creating the ban was effective from Friday, it will not take legal
solid waste. A spokeswoman for the city’s Law Department action on the manufacturers and users till January
said only that it would vigorously defend the “thorough, 2018 in order to give them time to switch to other
exhaustive, and legally sound” May 12 report from the alternatives. Anyone found using or manufacturing
Department of Sanitation enacting the ban, which said the banned products thereafter will face a two-year
that food service EPS "cannot be recycled in a manner imprisonment and a fi ne of 10,000 Sri Lankan rupees
that is economically feasible or environmentally effective ($65).

Plastics News | September 2017 32