The Municipalities and Regional Government Committee will be hearing a bill Wednesday that would limit Styrofoam in the Commonwealth 

Modeled after a similar Connecticut bill, Senator Joyce's legislation would give towns across Massachusetts the local option of banning Styrofoam products within their borders.  

Senator Joyce was asked to file the legislation by his daughter Maggie, who will also testify in support of the bill at a hearing on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m in Room 437 of the State House.

Maggie had been studying recycling with her class and became concerned when they learned that polystyrene foam -- otherwise known as Styrofoam, is made with petroleum, a non-sustainable, heavily polluting and disappearing commodity. Since the product does not biodegrade, it crumbles into small fragments that have no expiration date. Styrofoam takes up more space in landfills than paper and eventually re-enters the environment when landfills are breached by water or mechanical forces. 

"This isn't so much about banning Styrofoam in the Commonwealth as it is about educating consumers about the detrimental impact of polystyrene on the environment, and asking individuals and corporations to seek alternative options," said Senator Joyce. 

Americans throw away 1,400 tons of Styrofoam each day. Additionally, there are concerns that toxic chemicals used in the manufacturing of polystyrene can leak out into the foods they contain threatening the health of those who use them. Styrofoam contains an abundance of styrene and benzene, chemicals that have been linked to cancer. Styrene is a known human neurotoxin and animal carcinogen. It has been linked to a variety of neurological and hematological disorders. Benzene is a known mutagen and carcinogen. It has been linked to numerous diseases such as leukemia, anemia, and damage to the nervous system. It is also found in cigarette smoke and automobile exhaust.   

"My hope is this bill will convince local manufacturers and vendors that there are a growing number of alternate containers and products available that are made with unbleached paper, a far more environmentally benign material," said Senator Joyce, adding that 100 cities across the nation have already banned Styrofoam packaging for take-our food.  Most recently, the Oakland City Council in California approved a ban in June. 

"It just doesn’t make sense for us to use packaging that lasts hundreds of years when its functional use is 15 minutes or less," added Senator Joyce.