By Zachary Blackwell
Elm Staff Writer
In an effort that may ultimately result in stronger environmental protection for Maryland, the state’s House of Delegates moved to pass a bill that targets polystyrene foam containers and cups made for food. This is following the passage of another version of the bill through Maryland’s Senate, which means that both chambers of Maryland’s government have approved a ban in some form.
The House of Delegates voted 97-38 in favor of the bill, which aims to help curb the widespread use of foam plastics statewide.
The sponsor of the bill that passed the House of Delegates, Del. Brooke Lierman, hopes that a ban on foam containers would encourage people to stop relying on plastic products and encourage greener solutions that would be sustainable.
According to CNN, Lierman said that “single-use plastics are overrunning our oceans and bays and neighborhoods. We need to take dramatic steps to start stemming our use and reliance on them … to leave future generations a planet full of wildlife and green space.” Lierman was also hopeful that the differences between her bill and the Senate’s version would be ironed out by a conference committee, and that committee would determine the final version of the bill. Governor Larry Hogan has not said whether he would sign the bill yet, according to the Baltimore Sun, but a spokeswoman for Hogan has said that “the governor is always willing to consider any piece of legislation that reaches his desk.”
Although the bills have been approved by Maryland’s legislature, they haven’t managed to avoid controversy, with concerns being raised about the potential impacts of a foam ban. During a series of hearings over the bill passed in the Senate, for instance, several groups were concerned about how banning foam containers could harm business by
raising their expenses. The president of the Maryland Retailers Association, Cailey Locklair Tolle, stated that “not only will costs go up for restaurants and be passed onto consumers, but because comparable products weigh more and many cannot be recycled, costs will increase due to higher tipping fees (based on weight) at landfills.”
There have also been many proponents of the bills who have defended them by pointing out how foam products cannot be recycled and create litter than cannot easily break down. For example, Ashley Van Stone, director of Trash Free Maryland, has said that plastic foam “easily breaks into small pieces, which makes it difficult to clean up”, according to CNN. She admits, though, that banning foam would just be the first step towards eradicating litter that is harmful to the environment.
It is true that banning most foam containers and cups may be an expensive shift, particularly for small business owners who may not have lots of funds to replace them with more sustainable alternatives or containers that could be reused. Although such alternatives are much more eco-friendly, either by reducing waste or preventing containers from being wasted, they also tend to be more expensive.
However, while replacing foam with another material would be costly in the shortterm, it is likely that it would save expenses in the long run, especially for the entire planet.
It is true that business owners would have to pay more money to use containers that are healthier for the environment, but they would also reduce the footprint of waste that they leave behind. By taking steps in favor of sustainability, businesses and individuals, as well as the state, would save money and time that would otherwise be spent trying to clean up foam (and other forms of waste). Ultimately, a shift away from foam may be costly, but it’ll help to avert future costs from the plight of environmental destruction.