Posted by Jill Y., a resident of the Menlo Park: University Heights neighborhood, on May 23, 2012 at 1:37 pm

When making a decision on whether to ban the use of foam containers by restaurants and food vendors, think beyond yourself. Think of the long term consequences. On the whole, we are a forward-looking community that wants to take steps to keep our environment clean and healthy, and we want to show our children that we are willing make an effort to change our habits for the good. Let's take the steps to be positive role models for them and do the right thing, even if it is a little bit inconvenient. This is what we try to teach our children to do at school and at home. We should expect at least as much from ourselves.

Here are great reasons to ban Polystrene:

*It pollutes our waterways, killing seabirds and threatening human health.

* It is not compostable.

* If it's in the water for a long time, it breaks up into small beads and lasts for thousands of years.

*It costs millions to clean up.

*It adds to litter.

*Very little of it degrades in landfills, and the amount that degrades creates potentially harmful liquid and gaseous byproducts.

* It is manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry and makes us more oil dependent.

Posted by Interested, a resident of another community, on May 23, 2012 at 4:02 pm

What a great idea. There must be a least another 100 ideas we could enact to put our local restaurants out of business.....Before you people ride off on your high horse, give the City of Menlo Park a call and ask how much local tax is paid by the likes of Su Hongs.....

Posted by Menlo Voter, a resident of the Menlo Park: other neighborhood, on May 23, 2012 at 8:32 pm

Jill:

if it's properly disposed of it doesn't do any of those things. How about we make sure it gets properly disposed of instead of banning a product that itself has nothing inherently wrong with it?