Make Modesto Styrofoam Free!

The Issue

Ban the use of Styrofoam and other polystyrene foam in all places of business and public facilities.  Create anti-polystyrene/Styrofoam ordinance in the city of Modesto.

Educate yourself on the dangers of polystyrene foam-

Expanded polystyrene foam is an environmental pollutant and non-biodegradable substance commonly used as disposable foodservice cups, plates, and containers. Often mistakenly referred to as Styrofoam, which is a Dow Chemical Company-trademarked form of polystyrene foam insulation, EPS is a petroleum-based plastic. It came into wide usage because it is lightweight, offers good insulation properties that keep products cold or hot, and keeps things safe during the shipping process without adding weight. 
Styrene is broadly used in the manufacture of plastics, resins, and rubber. The Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have established styrene as a possible human carcinogen. Most notably, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the U.S. National Toxicology Program, listed styrene as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" in the 13th Report on Carcinogens.
Non-biodegradable: Polystyrene foam appears to last forever, as it is resistant to photolysis, or the breaking down of materials by photons originating from a light source. This, combined with the fact that foam is lightweight and therefore floats, means that over time a great deal of polystyrene has accumulated along coasts and waterways around the world. It is now considered a main component of marine debris, a.k.a. plastic pollution.

(Education source: Plastic Pollution Coalition)

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The Issue

Ban the use of Styrofoam and other polystyrene foam in all places of business and public facilities.  Create anti-polystyrene/Styrofoam ordinance in the city of Modesto.

Educate yourself on the dangers of polystyrene foam-

Expanded polystyrene foam is an environmental pollutant and non-biodegradable substance commonly used as disposable foodservice cups, plates, and containers. Often mistakenly referred to as Styrofoam, which is a Dow Chemical Company-trademarked form of polystyrene foam insulation, EPS is a petroleum-based plastic. It came into wide usage because it is lightweight, offers good insulation properties that keep products cold or hot, and keeps things safe during the shipping process without adding weight. 
Styrene is broadly used in the manufacture of plastics, resins, and rubber. The Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have established styrene as a possible human carcinogen. Most notably, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the U.S. National Toxicology Program, listed styrene as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" in the 13th Report on Carcinogens.
Non-biodegradable: Polystyrene foam appears to last forever, as it is resistant to photolysis, or the breaking down of materials by photons originating from a light source. This, combined with the fact that foam is lightweight and therefore floats, means that over time a great deal of polystyrene has accumulated along coasts and waterways around the world. It is now considered a main component of marine debris, a.k.a. plastic pollution.

(Education source: Plastic Pollution Coalition)

The Decision Makers

Modesto City Council
Modesto City Council

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Petition created on April 5, 2018