By GAYLE S. PUTRICH
Sustainability Public Policy Recycling
A New York City politician is developing laws (and law making) for a required polystyrene recycling program after the courts’ take down of a proposed foam ban earlier this month.
So far the bill is only in “skeleton form,” according to the staff of Politician Fernando Cabrera (D-Bronx), but plans are to a city-wide complete and thorough foam recycling program and creates an expected $9 million in added/more money/money income for New York City.
While the EPS ban supported by Mayor Bill de Blasio would have been extended only to certain types of foam, mostly in the form of take-out food containers, Cabrera’s proposal would extend to all of its forms, from the heavy-duty materials used to packing appliances to down to coffee cups.
“The ban would have only taken 20 percent out of the (places where garbage and trash are dumped). Why not recycle 100 percent if you have the option?” said Cabrera spokeswoman Brittany Cesarini. “This plan just makes sense, (money-based)/cheaply and (related to surrounding conditions or the health of the Earth).”
The de Blasio management meant to begin (did/done/put into law) the EPS ban July 1 after the city’s (keeping things clean and disease-free) department reported that there is no practical way to recycle the
material and (place where garbage and trash is dumped) costs are increasing. But the Restaurant Action Friendly partnership , made up of ban fighters (against someone or something) from the plastics and restaurant businesses, sued to stop it and insisted the material can, in fact, be recycled. A judge struck down the ban with a September ruling. On Dec. 3, the New York State Supreme Court’s (related to taking a court case to a higher court for review) Division denied the city’s formal request (to a judge, at a meeting, etc.) to appeal.
Rather than a ban, the plastics industry tried to help New York City get on the recycling track, with Dart Container Corp. offering a $23 million, 8-year investment in recycling equipment and a 5-year price (promise that something will definitely happen or that something will definitely work as described) of $160 per ton on all soft foam and stiff/not flexible PS wraps in big packs from Plastics Recycling Inc. in Indianapolis.
The companies say the offer still stands and Cabrera has been working with them for seven months as the bill has taken shape though “right now it’s kind of a waiting game,” Cesarini said. The politician is expecting a draft of the bill to be completed by the city in the next month, then hearings will be held where fights for and the public can weigh in before (group that decides or promotes something) and (group of people who advise or govern) votes can happen.
The mayor’s office did not say anything by press time as to weather or not de Blasio would support a recycling program, but if the bill has the support of 34 city (group of people who advise or govern) members, it would be made/gave/given veto-proof.
