SUFFOLK CLOSEUP - Environment, Public Health And Plastic Policy

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

By Karl Grossman

The good news is that the distribution of plastic—that petrochemical product that has polluted the planet—is being challenged worldwide. The European Parliament last month banned single-use plastic products—plastic bags, straws, plates, cups and so forth. In the United States, the Maryland State Senate this month approved a measure to ban polystyrene foam food containers and cups—it would become the first state to take such action.

And Suffolk County, which has led the U.S. in many environmental initiatives, is preparing to take action on a set of bills that, among other things, would ban polystyrene (often called Styrofoam) food containers, plates and cups and also plastic straws and stirrers. Several towns and villages in Suffolk—including Southampton and East Hampton Towns and the Villages of Patchogue—have been taking on plastic products including limiting the distribution by stores of single-use plastic bags. This was followed by Suffolk County last year passing its own law on single-use plastic bags.

Meanwhile, a number of stores have moved on plastics. Trader Joe’s has declared that it has “stopped offering single-use plastic carryout bags in all stores” and “replaced any remaining Styrofoam trays in our produce section with bio-based compostable trays.”

The bad news is that the petrochemical industry is still pushing plastic—and pushing hard. “A major push is underway and attracting hundreds of billions in investment, both foreign and domestic, to move in the opposite direction and produce more plastics and other petrochemicals,” declared an extensive article this month on the www.desmog.com website. “The goal? To create new demand from industry from raw materials produced by fracked shale wells.” Fracking, the breaking apart of underground shale deposits for gas and oil, a highly polluting process using 600 chemicals, many cancer-causing, and contaminating water supplies, is causing the U.S. to this year become the world’s top producer of petroleum, exceeding Saudi Arabia. The petrochemical industry is promoting more use of plastic which is made with oil.

“Today,” declared Suffolk Legislator Kara Hahn last month, “we announce policies that will come to define our county’s environmental legacy for generations to come. The vast and growing scale of the worldwide plastics problem has become a growing threat to human health. We as a county have worked, in some cases decades, to address the challenges posed by these dangerous pollutants.  Now, with the backing of science and evolving public awareness, support for policies limiting and banning substances that threaten human health and our environment has reached a turning point. It’s time to take a stand against this growing threat.” 

“How do you conquer a world-wide crisis?” asked Legislator Hahn of Setauket. “One local county at a time if necessary. An island, like Long Island, surrounded by the ocean and the Sound with water so intricately tied to our life and our identity, should be at the forefront of this issue, not wait to be last in line.” 

With Ms. Hahn were members of the county’s Single-Use Plastic Reduction Task Force which she chairs and developed the proposed restrictions on plastic products. Also with her was Legislator William Spencer of Centerport, a medical doctor, who commented: “The negative impacts to our environment and public health, due to plastic pollution, is a problem that will continue to worsen with time. Taking action now is imperative if we are going to effectively reverse the growing crisis.”

As the proposed law on plastic straws and stirrers begins, the Suffolk Legislature “hereby finds and determines that the County of Suffolk is a national leader in environmental protection, as it strives to protect the natural resources and beauty of Long Island.” It notes the enactment of restrictions on single-use plastic bags. “The Legislature further finds that plastic straws are ubiquitous, often served automatically when a drink is ordered at a restaurant. Americans collectively use 500 million plastic straws per day…This is enough straws to wrap around the earth’s circumference 2.5 times every day.” Under the measure, plastic straws would only be available “by request” in Suffolk.

As for polystyrene food containers, the bill banning them explains that “polystyrene foam is a petroleum-based plastic made from the styrene monomer” and “styrene has been classified as a potential human carcinogen by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.” Further, the EPA “has determined that the polystyrene manufacturing process is the fifth largest creator of hazardous waste in the United States.” And, “There exists no practical method to recycle polystyrene and incineration of polystyrene releases toxic fumes.”

“This Legislature further determines that alternative biodegradable food service items are readily available to meet the vast majority of food service needs” and “the use of biodegradable and/or compostable food service products will reduce the waste stream in Suffolk County…”

All these plastic products—unnecessary other than to profit the petrochemical industry.

Karl Grossman is a veteran investigative reporter and columnist, the winner of numerous awards for his work and a member of the L.I. Journalism Hall of Fame. He is a professor of journalism at SUNY/College at Old Westbury and the author of six books.