File #: Res 0996-2007    Version: * Name: NYC Department of Education to stop using products made of polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management
On agenda: 8/22/2007
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York City Department of Education to stop using products made of polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam.
Sponsors: Bill De Blasio, Gale A. Brewer, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Lewis A. Fidler, James F. Gennaro, Alan J. Gerson, Letitia James, G. Oliver Koppell, John C. Liu, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Michael C. Nelson, Helen Sears, David I. Weprin, Sara M. Gonzalez
Council Member Sponsors: 14

Res. No. 996

 

Resolution calling upon the New York City Department of Education to stop using products made of polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam.

 

By Council Members de Blasio, Brewer, Comrie, Fidler, Gennaro, Gerson, James, Koppell, Liu, Mark-Viverito, Nelson, Sears, Weprin and Gonzalez

 

                     Whereas, The New York City Department of Education uses over 850,000 polystyrene foam food trays in school cafeterias very day totaling over 4 million per week and over 153 million per school year; and

                     Whereas, Polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam, is virtually immune to biological decomposition and consequently products made from polystyrene foam when landfilled consume landfill space for centuries; and

                     Whereas, Polystyrene foam also resists compacting and therefore, by volume, consumes more landfill space than other materials, such as paper; and

                     Whereas, Polystyrene foam is not made from material recovered from the waste stream and therefore does not contribute to the markets for recycled materials: and                     

                     Whereas, Polystyrene foam is a pollutant that breaks down to smaller, non biodegradable pieces that are ingested by marine life and other wildlife thus injuring or killing them; and

                     Whereas, Due to the physical properties of polystyrene foam, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states “that such materials can also have serious impacts on human health, wildlife, the aquatic environment and the economy”; and

                     Whereas, There are food trays made from compostable or recyclable material that are cost effective and could be substituted for the polystyrene foam trays; and

                     Whereas, There are virtually few if any markets that actually recycle polystyrene foam and in fact the New York City Department of Education does not recycle the polystyrene foam it uses; and

                     Whereas, Over 100 municipalities in the United States have banned the use of any products made from polystyrene foam and the New York City Council is considering a similar ban for the City of New York, but that ban would not cover the New York City Department of Education;  now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, The Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Department of Education to stop using products made of polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam.

 

LS#3714 -CJC-8/13/07