May 4, 2017
MEMO TO: Mike White, Council Chair
F R 0 M: Gary Saldana, Legislative Analyst//4
SUBJECT: POLYSTYRENE RESEARCH (PAF 17-100C)
Below is an assessment of definitions of polystyrene food containers from various cities and counties that have enacted polystyrene food container bans.
The definition of “Polystyrene” in the County of Maui Bill 127(2016) is identified followed by definitions from the City of San Jose, Montgomery County in Maryland, Alameda County in California and City and County of San Francisco.
You will note that some language is highlighted in red. The red highlighted language will identify wording that is the same in the County of Maui Bill 127 definition of polystyrene. The wording in black is language that is not include in Bill 127.
Please note there exists a lot of similarities in each of the bills to Bill 127. Also, all of the communities that have been identified below are ordinances that restrict polystyrene foam containers and they do not restrict clear or colored polystyrene containers.
Maui- “Polystyrene” means a thermoplastic petrochemical material utilizing a styrene monomer, including all polystyrene, meaning any styrene or vinyl chloride polymer which is blown into a foam-like material. Polystyrene may be processed by any number of techniques, including fusion of polymer spheres (expandable bead polystyrene), injection molding, foam molding, and extrusion- blow molding (extruded foam polystyrene).
San Jose- Polystyrene foam” means a thermoplastic petrochemical material made from a styrene monomer and expanded or blown using a gaseous agent (expanded polystyrene) including, but not limited to] fusion of polymer spheres (expandable bead polystyrene), injection molding, form molding, and extrusion blow molding (extruded foam polystyrene). “Polystyrene foam: is commonly made into disposable food service ware products. Polystyrene foam: does not include clear or solid polystyrene (oriented polystyrene). May 4, 2017 Page 2
Montgomery County, MD- “Expanded polystyrene” means blown polystyrene and expanded and extruded foams that are thermoplastic petrochemical material utilizing a styrene monomer and processed by a number of techniques, including fusion of polymer spheres (expandable bead polystyrene), injection molding, foam molding, and extrusion blow molding (extruded foam polystyrene).
Alameda County, CA- Polystyrene’t means a thermoplastic petrochemical material utilizing styrene monomers. It includes all Polystyrene, meaning any styrene or vinyl chloride polymer which is blown into a foam like material. This includes the thermoplastic petrochemical material utilizing the styrene monomer, which may be marked with resin symbol #6. sometimes referred to as Styrofoam, a Dow Chemical Company trademarked form of Polystyrene insulation Polystyrene is generally used to make cups, bowls, plates, trays, clamshell containers, meat trays and egg cartons
San Francisco- “Polystyrene Foam” means blown polystyrene and expanded and extruded foams which are thermoplastic petrochemical materials utilizing a styrene monomer and processed by any number of techniques including, but not limited to, fusion of polymer spheres (expandable bead polystyrene), injection molding, foam molding, and extrusion blown molding (extruded foam polystyrene). Polystyrene foam is generally used to make cups, bowls, plates, trays, clamshell containers, meat trays, and egg cartons.
Paf:grs: 17-lOOc cc: Deputy County Clerk Corporation Counsel Director of Council Services