San Jose Could Become Biggest City to Ban Plastic Foam Containers

Date: February 26, 2013

Source: News Room

The City of San Jose could become the largest city in California to ban plastic foam food containers. This week, its council voted to conduct environmental impact studies on a potential countywide phase-out that could speed the adoption of similar measures in other area cities. Two weeks ago New York City's Mayor Michael Bloomberg also proposed banning plastic foam containers, along with efforts to double the city's recycling rate and go after food waste. He noted that the ubiquitous plastic foam coffee cups and clamshell food containers break easily, litter streets and parks, clog drains, foul waterways and have to be removed when mixed with other recycled materials, adding as much as $20 per ton to the cost of recycling.

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