The Danvers Select Board Expresses Support for a Styrofoam Ban Proposal

The Danvers Select Board has requested the Town Manager to draft a bylaw prohibiting the use of "to-go" styrofoam containers by local restaurants for an upcoming town meeting. This is part of a broader regional effort to address environmental concerns related to single-use plastics.

The Danvers Select Board unanimously approved a proposal to have the Town Manager draft a bylaw banning the use of styrofoam "to-go" containers by local restaurants for an upcoming town meeting. This is part of a broader regional effort to address environmental concerns related to single-use plastics.

The initial proposal would ban the use of styrofoam in delivery containers for food prepared on-site at restaurants in Danvers. It would not include pre-packaged food transported to Danvers stores or other packing materials sold in stores.

"I fully support banning styrofoam," stated Select Board member Daniel Bennett. "I previously signed a letter from an environmental group urging the governor to implement a statewide styrofoam ban. Additionally, I strongly endorsed the town's 2018 ban on plastic bags."

"A solid initial step is to enact a bylaw prohibiting styrofoam for restaurant and salad bar to-go packages. It may be more challenging to address styrofoam delivered by large meat-packing companies, a task for future efforts. Nonetheless, we can start by banning styrofoam for takeout purposes. Chinese food restaurants have already adopted this practice with their boxes, showing it's feasible."

The presenters of the proposed ban stated that a survey of Danvers restaurants revealed that most, including those currently using styrofoam, would be open to the ban. This indicates a high level of receptiveness among local restaurants towards the proposed styrofoam ban.

"Many restaurants are open to the change," stated Bennett, emphasizing that the proposed ban on styrofoam for restaurants and salad bars in to-go packages is well-received. He also highlighted the feasibility of implementing the ban without causing disruption, underscoring the importance of the Select Board's support for the initiative.

Proponents suggested modeling the ban on similar measures recently implemented in neighboring Salem and Marblehead. For instance, the Salem ban included a grace period for businesses to deplete their existing styrofoam inventory and transition to alternative materials.

Swampscott recently implemented a styrofoam ban, which also included a more comprehensive approach to prohibit single-use plastic food containers.

Bartha said his office could produce language for a warrant article calling for the ban but it was not immediately clear if that would be done in time for the annual town meeting this spring.