Public Comments 09-12-2017 PolystyreneFrom: Marty Golembiewski[ma iIto: martygolembiewski(cbhotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2017 11:12 AM
To: Avon Council Web
Subject: Styrofoam ban - support
As a Town of Avon Resident I completely support a Styrofoam ban. I also support a plastic bag
ban. I feel it is our responsibility to do everything possible to protect the natural beauty of our
area and environment.
Thank you,
Marty Golembiewski
Debbie Hoppe
From: Janine Kennel Rands <j9rands@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2017 12:34 AM
To: Debbie Hoppe
Cc: Avon Council Web
Subject: Re: Polystyrene ban considered in Avon, CO
Avon City Council
I just read through your documents on the EPS ordinance proposal (Polystyrene Reduction Ordinance).
You use statistics from Surfrider Foundation. Their website and data are horribly out of date (likely from 2014)
as to accurate numbers of cities who have passed EPS ordinances.
<Other Cities Numerous cities across the nation have taken action to reduce the use of polystyrene -based
disposable food service ware. Page 4 of 5 -
The Surfrider Foundation, an organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's ocean,
waves and beaches, has listed on its website 76 municipalities in California that have enacted ordinances
banning polystyrene in some capacity, with 65 of them covering restaurants (Surfrider Foundation). • In
addition, the website lists eight cities in Florida, six cities in Maine, six cities in Massachusetts, one city in New
Jersey, three cities in New York, one city in Oregon, one city in Texas, three cities in Washington, and
Washington D.C., that have all taken action to reduce polystyrene (Surfrider Foundation)>
California now boasts 109 Cities with EPS Ordinances as of June 2017: and soon we will add another CA city,
making it 110
Count is 109 (per Californians Against Waste)
- 21 Full Bans (ban to restaurants, retail and mailing centers)
- 13 Government Facilities
- 75 Restaurants
Many national cities are making the switch to compostable materials across the board - to include all foam and
single use plastics.
--To name a few large cities: San Francisco, Berkeley, San Jose, CA; Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, NYC,
Washington, D.C., Maui, Honolulu, etc., countries like France, Zimbabwe, parts of India, Philippines, and the
list goes on.
The plight of the "poor business/vendor" is now a poor excuse worldwide. If a business uses or sells a non-
compostable container to serve food, they should pay for its disposal. Since Polystyrene Foam is not
economically feasible to recycle, then it goes to landfill, where it will stay forever. Foam has been documented
to kill thousands of marine life to stifle their digestion and impact the gut. Foam and plastics are now part of the
incredible plastic debris in the 5 Ocean Gyres. Your business community does not care for the environment if
they plead poverty.
Sincerely,
Janine Rands
San Luis Obispo, CA
Janine Rands
San Luis Obispo
On Mon, Sep 11, 2017 at 10:05 AM, Janine Kennel Rands <j9randsaal-nail.com> wrote:
Town Clerk - Debbie Hoppe
Dear Ms. Hoppe
I noted the article in today's Vail Daily that your Avon Town Council will address the Polystyrene Foam
Reduction Ordinance tomorrow evening. The article encourages comments emailed to you by this
evening, so from a traveler and environmentalist, I'm sending you my comments. I traveled through
Colorado last summer and noted the numerous pieces of Foam trash that escape the trash can, which is
a source of food to wildlife and birds - particularly when it has residue of foods on it.
http://www.vaildaily.com/news/town-of-avon-collecting-comment-on-plastic-bags-polystyrene/
It's very encouraging that your Council is working on this issue, as EPS is such a blight on the
environment, as well as a health issue. Asking that all food vendors not use it is only half the battle. If
your ordinance doesn't include a ban to retail sale in all grocery and department stores and Mail Centers
using packaging peanuts, then the complete problems haven't been addressed. People will still purchase
Foam, take it to the parks for picnics and leave in their own trash bins where it will escape into the air,
water and stomachs of birds.
I lead a grass roots coalition to have EPS banned in San Luis Obispo County, CA and so far, we have
successfully banned it in four of our cities; another coastal city is on the cusp of their ordinance Oct 2.
Then we move for the County level. I am also working on efforts statewide. We are also highlighting the
health issues of using Foam: that heat, oily and acidic foods activate and release the EPS chemicals into
the food and drinks. We need to combat issues that contribute to health concerns as well.
Please check out our ordinance from San Luis Obispo. Unfortunately, the City Council didn't go the extra
level, and include "Foam meat trays, egg cartons and Polystyrene cutlery". So, I want to direct you
towards the Polystyrene Ordinance of Malibu, CA:
https://www.maIibucity.org/nofoam, that includes:
• Food ware (including cups, plates, clamshells, and other containers)
• Meat and fish trays, and egg cartons
• Packing materials* (including "peanuts" and shipping boxes, and when using within Malibu to pack items sold, unless
packing materials were donated or are reused and not sent to consumer or end user)
• Coolers, ice chests or similar containers*
• Pool or beach toys*
• Dock floats, mooring buoys, or anchor or navigational markers*
* Unless they are wholly encased within a more durable material
San Luis Obispo, CA EPS Ordinance
http://www.slocity.org/government/department-directory/community-development/sustainability/expanded-
polystyrene-regulations
I'd like you to consider using the City of Malibu, CA's Polystyrene Ordinance! Be a leader in Colorado.
Your birds and wildlife will thank you, as well as this become a huge change to litter, people's
understanding of litter and landfill issues.
Sincerely,
Janine Rands
Chair
SLO Foam Free (our fb page)
San Luis Obispo, CA
Janine Rands
San Luis Obispo
From: Nancy [mailto:klumbt0)comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2017 2:50 PM
To: Debbie Hoppe
Subject: Strongly OPPOSED to proposed ban on plastic bags and polystyrene foam
To Whom It may Concern:
Regarding public comment, we are strongly opposed to implementing this ban. It is an irritant to
say the least, a huge inconvenience to our vacationers and bad for business.We are a resort
community and the inconvenience (and nickel and diming our visitors) is simply poor form.
When I am on vacation I do not travel with re -usable bags. We should be doing everything we
can to encourage travel to our community - not discourage it. Our entire business structure
depends on tourism.
Secondly, as a full time resident, I bring my own bags because it is convenient to do so. I live in
Edwards and have a choice of where to grocery shop. The Eagle City Market is newly remodeled
and only about 5 minutes farther from my home. Should this ban go into place, traveling to Eagle
will be even more appealing in case I buy more groceries than my bags can contain.
PLEASE VOTE NO on the Ban
Tom and Nancy Klumb