Maui Polystyrene Ban Unanimously Approved by Council

Polystyrene ban approved by council. Graphic: Maui Now. File background image courtesy Office of Council Services.

The Maui County Council on Thursday night unanimously approved of a bill to ban the use and sale of foam polystyrene food containers. The ban is set to go into effect at the end of 2018.

Last week the council accepted testimony on the measure and narrowed its scope.

Supporters of the bill spoke of the environmental benefits, while opponents argued about the cost and lack of recycling options for alternative containers.

Bill 127 states that due to its lightweight nature and ability to break down into smaller fragments that persist for decades, polystyrene has significant negative impacts on the environment and contributes to the potential death of marine animals and avian populations through ingestion.

The bill now heads to the Mayor for his consideration.