Re: “Everyone’s Opinion Sought on Polystyrene”
Göran Eriksson, one half of the City Council’s Sustainability Subcommittee, says polling of the community should start next week on the question of whether to ban polystyrene and what its replacement should be.
A body of questions will be on the city’s site, www.culvercity.org
That is the easy part.
Far cloudier will be crystallizing the bevy of opinions from environmental advocates who are anxious to halt the steady flow of polystyrene-type debris into nearby waterways.
Public Works Director Charles Herbertson, in charge of the community survey, pondered the question of how strongly the body of community opinions will influence the ultimate verdict by the City Council.
“Since the ultimate decision will be made by the City Council,” said Mr. Hebertson, “I can’t really say.”
The more difficult question, he said, is whether restaurants can absorb the increased expense of replacing their polystyrene food containers with a variety of fabric options.
“Generally speaking, the substitutes cost more,” Mr. Herbertson said. “This will be somewhat of a financial burden on restaurants.
“Some will say they have not sufficiently tested substitutes.
“And what replacements restaurants choose could present a different set of problems.”
Mr. Herbertson said the survey will be available for community participation for – so far – an open-ended amount of time. “We want to get as many responses as possible,” he said.
Findings are expected to be ready for the Dec. 12 City Council meeting when a polystyrene ban will be discussed, but not likely voted upon.
