From the Senate Minority Office:
Today the Maryland Senate passed a bill to ban Styrofoam. It bans the distribution of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) food service products in the State under the guise of making Maryland the first state to be “foam free”. Proponents of the bill touted that it would reduce waste and result in cleaner communities. Through extended debate it was made abundantly clear that the notion of a “Foam Free Maryland” is a hollow promise at best and blatantly deceptive at worst.
“This legislation is a ‘feel good’ bill that carries no weight and ultimately does little to move the needle on removing foam from the market,” said Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings (R- 7, Baltimore and Harford).”
Amendments were offered to create a Litter Study to figure out the exact litter makeup of the State. SB 285 taps these alternatives as “preferable litter” and triples the weight of trash in landfills. Pushing small businesses and farms into “preferable”, and potentially less recyclable, products may lead to increased environmental impacts. The notion that some litter is considered “preferable” to others is ludicrous and seemingly counterintuitive to the bravado of the bill.
Other amendments offered would exempt jurisdictions that initiate a recycling program for EPS. An amendment was even offered to exempt egg cartons so that our egg farmers in Maryland would not be affected. The bill exempts food that has been packaged and sealed outside the State, due to Interstate Commerce Clauses. The Maryland Farm Bureau reports that 90% of all eggs sold in Maryland are from out-of-state egg producers.
State Republican Senators stood in opposition and repeatedly implored the Senate body to reconsider. “This bill does not move the needle at all on protecting the environment. And it is going to be a tremendous inconvenience on the little guy… let’s reconsider this ill-conceived policy” said Senator Justin Ready (R-5, Carroll). “Our actions speak much larger than our words… I hope that you stand up and protect agriculture, Maryland’s largest commercial industry” added Senator Jack Bailey (R-29, St. Mary’s), who also noted the negative effect that this legislation would have on the state’s small farms and implored his colleagues to reconsider and to take more time to think about the “little guy”.
leftist socialist called democrats putting more maryland business out of business and stopping in their tracks many that thought MD was turning pro-business. someone please challenge this in court if this insane legislation comes law in this socialist utopia called MD.
Because we have no actual issue in Maryland that need to be addressed, lets ban styrofoam. What a bunch of buffoons those Democrats that run the legislature are.
“This legislation is a ‘feel good’ bill that carries no weight and ultimately does little” – This is the mantra of the Democratic party and is why just about every solution to just about anything the Democratic party tries to interfere in is pointless. In all reality, there is truth in the phrase “preferable litter”, as it relates to litter that is biodegradable and less hazardous to the environment. It takes Styrofoam about 50 years to decay in cup form and about 80 years in the form of a buoy, however, it does decay. Plastic can take up to 1000 years to decay and the common plastic bottle takes about 450 years to decompose. Even an idiot should be able to discern the difference once the facts are put right in front of them. However, we are talking about radical Democrats that won’t face reality…..
Any trash, including Styrofoam, that ends up in the stomach or around the neck of marine animals should be banned. When we do find effective ways to recycle these plastic “disposables”, then maybe we would be in a position to responsibly allow them general use.
The true tragddy of plastics disposables is that the cost to the environment was never figured into their “cost to use.” True, a paper bag costs a few pennies more to produce, but it is made of a renewable, recyclable product. There is more to the “bottom line” that the amount of money in your pocket this quarter.
With you ALL the way on the paper bag thing. We should’ve never started using so many plastic bags because they are everywhere nowadays. It is truly irresponsible for people to not put their trash in designated areas or even take it with them. When I go fishing in the summer, I never leave any garbage anywhere I go. I always take it home with me and throw it away at home. It’s very easy to put your garbage back in the cooler and empty it when you get home. But, what do I know…..
It has always amazed me that so many people feel it’s OK to throw their trash wherever. How can we ever expect to solve the big problems facing our country, if we can’t even put our litter into a receptacle.
With approval from both legislative chambers, Maryland moves to become first state to ban foam food containers
https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-foam-ban-passes-20190312-story.html
How about instead a mandatory 40 hours of public service litter clean-up for those who litter.That would solve the problem and harm no-one.
My friends and the owners of Route 40 BBQ use the cardboard food clam shell style containers, they have a very thriving small business. Can’t wait to get one of their breakfast sandwiches when the Havre de Grace Farmers Market opens in May.
With the average cost of about 17 cents per container more, I know I would gladly pay my share to make foam food containers go the way of extinction.