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Styrofoam Ban

Saturday, November 17, 2012

TALKER: Is Brookline the New Nanny State?

Let your voice be heard in the comments section below

Brookline made some big decisions at the Town Meeting this week by banning plastic bags and Styrofoam cups. Advocates noted that Styrofoam won't break down in landfills and is made of potentially noxious chemicals and that plastic bags are harmful to the environment. Plenty of voices spoke out against this ban for a multitude of reasons ranging from a concern over cleaning up after dog waste to the government having too much say in day to day life. So what do you think? How do you feel about the ban on Styrofoam and plastic bags in town? Do you support banning one or the other or both? Is this a step in the right direction for a more progressive town or is Brookline the new Nanny State? Use the comments section to tell us your thoughts? 

In this Article:

Banned in Brookline: Plastic Bags and Banned in Brookline: Polystyrene Food and Beverage Containers

Shawn Pearson

5:57 pm on Monday, November 19, 2012

This ain't your parents' Brookline anymore..... very disappointing.   more ›

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Banned in Brookline: Polystyrene Food and Beverage Containers

Brookline’s Special Town Meeting voted to ban the use of polystyrene food and beverage containers on Tuesday night.

The use of Polystyrene, more commonly known as Styrofoam, will be prohibited for take-out or to go in Brookline. Town meeting member Nancy Heller proposed the article due to the health risks. “Styrene (the chemical found in and released from polystyrene) is noxious to make, does not biodegrade and are on the (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) list of reasonably anticipated carcinogens,” Heller said. The issue with styrene is that it may leach into food and beverages as well as on going environmental concerns. “Styrene is incinerated at landfills or turned into pellets to make new polystyrene,” Heller said. “The environmental effects are reason enough to ban the stuff. The article passed with 169-to-27. Christine Riley director …

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