Ban Styrofoam (otherwise know as EPS, Expanded Polystyrene Foam)
Petitioner:
Ms Lucy Barker
| Member:
Griffin, James
| No. of Signatories:
182
| Date closed:
19/08/2021
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, Styrofoam (otherwise known as Expanded Polystyrene Foam EPS) is a massive contributor to environmental litter and has long-term negative impacts on our oceans, waterways, wildlife, and our health.
Styrofoam doesn’t breakdown, it breaks apart into smaller and smaller pieces becoming toxic microplastic pollution that enters the food chain. We want NSW to take action in protecting our environment and our health by banning Styrofoam containers and packaging.
Styrene, a chemical in EPS foam, has been identified by The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program, as a human carcinogen. It is known to leach from containers into food and drinks, especially when heated.
In addition, because Styrofoam is so light, it gets carried across land and oceans, breaking up as it goes and finally accumulating as unsightly pollution along our rivers and coastlines where is gets unknowingly ingested by wildlife, with deadly consequences.
We want NSW State Government to follow the lead of other jurisdictions around the world, such as New York State, and ban all single-use Styrofoam plus incentivise the uptake of environmentally friendly options.
