Single-use food ware made of Polystyrene foam EPS (trade name “Styrofoam”) is a health and environmental hazard from start to finish.
EPS leaches toxic substances, especially in hot drinks and alcohol, reheated leftovers, and oily and acidic foods. School districts in Oregon are working towards eliminating EPS and polystyrene food-ware.
Tens of thousands of workers in the manufacturing of it are exposed to styrene, leading to severe illness and deaths associated with cancers and heart diseases.
EPS manufacturing contributes to human-caused climate change and leads to a dangerous air pollutant at ground level called tropospheric ozone, which is associated with nausea, asthma and bronchitis. If burned or incinerated, toxic carbon monoxide is released into the air.
Recycling of this material is not practical, as these items are generated in food service locations that are often small businesses. Converting dirty EPS to oil is cost prohibitive to the average food service business and is not recyclable.
This lightweight material is mostly air and chemicals, and is soiled. Used once for mere minutes, it can take 500 years or more to decompose. This material absorbs toxins, is fragile, easily broken up into micro-plastics, is consumed by land and marine animals causing harm, death and, ultimately, entering the food chain.
More than 400 cities and municipalities across the U.S. have banned single use Polystyrene foam food-ware. Portland banned it in the early 1990s.
Eugene what are we waiting for?
Cynthia Matherly
Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519
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