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In an effort to aid the environment, the Common Council voted unanimously this week to ban styrofoam in Norwalk, effective as of April 22, 2020.
According to studies, styrofoam is responsible for approximately 30 percent of all landfill volume nationwide and 20 percent of the litter in bodies of water. The chemicals used to make styrofoam have also been linked to cancer and neurological issues in humans.
In Norwalk, the new ordinance will ban retailers from serving, selling, distributing or providing food in styrofoam packaging,, including eggs, meat, bakery products, and other food products. Food brought into the city in styrofoam, and seafood products will be the exception to the ban.
The ordinance states, “the purpose of this article is to preserve and protect the environment in the City of Norwalk by prohibiting the sale, provision or distribution of polystyrene products by food packagers and retail establishments.
According to the EPA, polystyrene is the fifth-largest pollutant in the country, and often ends up in waterways, and takes many years to decompose. The World Health Organization has also called it a carcinogen.
The ban goes into effect on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. It is the latest measure the city has taken to go green, following the ban of single-use plastic bag at retail locations.
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