News Archive

  • Banning Polystyrene Won't Help California's Environment — But It Will Hurt Jobs, Economy

    October 24, 2018

    Having successfully outlawed plastic bags and straws, the next target of California lawmakers, who seem intent on criminalizing as many consumer conveniences as possible, just might be those foam containers used to hold take-out food....read more

  • Banning single use plastics is a typical example of good intentions triumphing over sound judgement.

    October 22, 2018

    With the Commission and Parliament both starting their last legislative year, one of the last challenges left on the political agenda is what to do about single-use plastics. The proposal currently making its way through Parliament is to ban the sale of products made from single-use plastics, from cotton buds to plastic straws....read more

  • Do you want to save the turtles? Don’t ban plastics – ban littering

    October 22, 2018

    Like any good Londoner, I used the fantastic summer weather to kayak from Limehouse to Hackney, discovering that part of the city by water. As a fairly experienced river and sea kayaker, I was taken aback by how full of litter London’s waters are....read more

  • COMMENTARY: A Styrofoam Ban Would Hurt San Diego

    October 14, 2018

    In July, San Diego Councilman Chris Ward succeeded in getting a proposal, which would ban Styrofoam products ranging from cups and takeout boxes to egg cartons and mooring buoys, forwarded to the full council for a decisive vote. Ward and other proponents of the ban portray polystyrene—the main material in Styrofoam products—as environmentally damaging, impossible to recycle, and generally troublesome....read more

  • A ban on single-use plastics would hurt consumers. But would it really save the environment?

    October 08, 2018

    California’s already banned them. The European Union isn’t far behind, and the UK seems poised to follow suit. I’m talking, of course, about single-use plastics....read more

  • Will A European Plastics Ban Really Help the Environment?

    September 22, 2018

    Over the course of this year, it seems as though the debate on environmental protection has greatly shifted to the issue of plastics, namely the effects of ill-disposed of waste on marine life....read more

  • Polystyrene ban would devastate Maine’s lobster industry

    August 15, 2018

    I want to notify you about a proposal that could have a devastating impact on Maine’s iconic lobster industry. It’s a classic example of a well-intentioned effort going awry and hurting people it’s supposed to help. I’m talking about how municipalities like New York City have recently moved to ban polystyrene foam, including Styrofoam, products from being used....read more

  • How to Eliminate the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

    August 06, 2018

    According to Science magazine, about 8 million metric tons of land-based plastic, including plastic straws, ends up in the world’s oceans each year. This is equivalent to five grocery bags of plastic on every foot of coastline around the world. More than a quarter of ocean plastic likely originates from only 10 rivers, eight of them in Asia. Marine life is vulnerable to the health risks posed by plastic debris....read more

  • A Further Perspective: Polystyrene Bans Are Indefensible

    August 02, 2018

    While the conservative commentariat has worked itself into a frenzy over the recent spate of proposed plastic straw bans, few pundits have taken notice of bans on something that’s far less cherished, yet far more useful: polystyrene. Notably, beginning on January 1, New York City will begin its ban on the material and many other liberal cities are following suit....read more

  • Small Businesses Threatened by Potential Plastic Ban

    July 24, 2018

    On the corner of my block in Oakland sits a small eatery serving everything from donuts to Chinese food to barbecue. Its large picture windows with faded lettering tells you its age and the loyal following of customers it enjoys. Its status is all the more remarkable considering that a new shopping center with chains and restaurants is bustling with customers just two blocks down....read more