The county Legislature on Monday voted, 23-13, with three absentees, to expand its polystyrene ban to include prohibiting use of the products for food service throughout Albany County, building on the ban first enacted in 2014 impacting chain food establishments only.

Prior to the vote, dozens of Albany County residents and special interest groups as well as polystyrene lobbyists and manufacturers provided a mix of opinions on whether the expanded ban should move forward.

گروه تولیدی ایران ورق

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“This is an opportunity to protect the environment and protect the health of the workers who are making polystyrene,” said Judith Enck, a former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional commissioner.

Meanwhile, an employee at Capital City Rescue Mission spoke out against the proposal.

A similar expansion on the ban was defeated last year.

Lots of folks here, some asking the county to NOT expand the styrofoam ban and others supporting paid sick days (the latter is not on the agenda this evening). #albany #albanycounty pic.twitter.com/MukoqRqvmD

— Amanda Fries (@mandy_fries) August 13, 2018
With the latest local law, establishments that used the commonly known Styrofoam products for takeout, or coffee, will have to switch to recyclable, or compostable, materials or face fines.

The fines are set on a scale, with the first offense costing no more than $250, the second costing $500 and three or more violations costing $1,000, according to the Local Law “L.”

The ban will only be enforceable on food service establishments permitted by the Albany County Department of Health and located in the county.

It exempts nonprofit organizations that sell food at fundraising events “incidental to its primary purpose.” Waivers can be issued for entities that can show the switch would be a financial hardship.

Grocery stores, which are permitted by the state, also are exempt from the local law.

Republican Legislator Paul Burgdorf voted against the measure and scoffed at the provisions in the local law that allows for waivers and exemptions. He also questioned why the bigger impact – packaging Styrofoam for appliances and electronics, for example – isn’t being tackled.

“If you really want to make an environmental step forward you don’t go after the 2 percent, you go after the 90 percent,” Burgdorf said.

Coeymans Democrat Richard Touchette supported the expanded ban, and found the mechanism for waivers satisfactory.

“It’s a reasonable approach to keep some polystyrene off our streets and out of our waterways,” he said.

Dozens of employees with Genpak, a food packaging manufacturer in Orange County, lined legislative chambers dressed in green shirts sporting the company’s logo and holding signs stating “Enough is enough, vote no on the ban.”

The company paid for their time and travel to Albany County to participate in Monday evening’s meeting, said Clark Wooley, a national accounts manager for Genpak, which also has a location in Queensbury.

“Employees are passionate. Their jobs are on the line,” he said. “The infrastructure (for recycling) needs to change.”

Wooley urged legislators to focus on the recycling system and explore options for recycling Styrofoam, which he says can be used in construction projects even if soiled.

Republicans attempted to pursue recycling efforts for the product, but a pilot study was voted down by the legislature earlier this year. Those opposed to the study were concerned about how it would be funded – via a polystyrene manufacturer.