SB 568: Short-term convenience, long-term pollution

Foam packaging litters our streets, costs taxpayers millions of dollars in cleanup costs, and is the second most common type of debris on California's beaches. SB 568 (Lowenthal) would have phased out the use of take-out food containers made of polystyrene (otherwise known as Styrofoam^TM) at food service establishments statewide, except in jurisdictions that recycle 60% of the foam foodware used locally. Chemical and plastic groups spent massively on lobbying, and the bill failed passage in the Assembly. The movement to reduce plastic pollution has grown, however, and dozens of cities banned polystyrene take-out containers this year.