San Diego’s Ban on Polystyrene Means Extra Prices for Small Companies

A ban on polystyrene went into impact for small companies in San Diego in April. Polystyrene is an artificial polymer generally colloquially known as Styrofoam, particularly within the U.S.

The transfer means extra prices for small companies in that California neighborhood.

“Polystyrene plastic foam is likely one of the greatest sources of marine litter and prices the state and native governments thousands and thousands of {dollars} every year to gather it from seashores, street sides, and storm drains,” writes Mariel Garza for the Los Angeles Occasions.

Small companies making lower than $500,000 yearly acquired a quick yr lengthy exemption. However now the price of eliminating the waste falls on the companies that may afford it least.

A 2013 examine by the American Chemistry Council found changing polystyrene meals containers and cups with one other different represents a minimum of a 94% value enhance for companies. The American Chemistry Council serves as a commerce affiliation selling the pursuits of the American chemical trade. That features corporations that presently manufacture and market polystyrene.

Small companies, significantly within the meals takeout trade, favor polystyrene for meals service containers. The product stays an affordable and sturdy choice. Polystyrene’s insulation properties additionally maintain meals and drinks heat.

Most popular different supplies beneficial by San Diego include ceramic, glass, plastic and paper. Town recommends these supplies for plates, cups, bowls, hinged containers and trays. Town additionally recommends aluminum for trays, hinged containers and wraps.

San Diego turns into certainly one of greater than 130 different California communities to institute a ban on polystyrene foodservice containers and different polystyrene merchandise. The Plastic Air pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Duty Act mandates a ban of the supplies statewide in California by 2025 except recycling charges attain 25%.

Different states which have already banned polystyrene include Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Washington DC and Colorado. States with bans looming embody Washington, Delaware, and the vast majority of Hawaii, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

Although extra expensive, some small companies nonetheless help the change.

“If for some likelihood one thing flies into the ocean, I’d moderately it’s a chunk of paper than a chunk of Styrofoam that’s going to be there for the following 3,000 years,” Bobby Kokinda, proprietor of Ocean Beach Meat Company told KPBS.

Picture: Envato

This text, “San Diego’s Ban on Polystyrene Means More Costs for Small Businesses” was first printed on Small Business Trends