Dear Editor,
Permit me not to overshadow or minimize in any way shape or form the elation inherent in the letter Stabroek News, October 20, 2015 `Welcome Styrofoam ban’ by Ruplall Dudhnath. The writer delineated some negative aspects both physical and social surrounding Styrofoam usage. Yes, Guyana has or is on its way to joining the more than over 70 cities in the U.S.A that have enforced a ban on the plastic foam. Perhaps it is judicious at this juncture to point out that New York which in January 2015 was hailed as the biggest U. S. city to ban polystyrene foam containers, after the city’s sanitation department had determined that the material used for among other things, egg cartons, take away containers etc. was non-recyclable, recently had the ban overturned in September. The presiding State Supreme Court Judge ruled that the Sanitation Department Commissioner failed during the year-long review period, to properly take into account industry estimates of the market in addition to recycling opportunities, when she made the decision that the material could not be recycled. I sincerely laud this gesture on the part of the current Government to ban the use of Styrofoam containers. Plainly and aptly stated Guyanese style, I am ready to jump for whatever will stop the country from being a dump. However, on an equally cautionary note there are a few points that with which I am desirous of familiarizing Mr. Dudhnath, and by extension the appropriate Government and health authorities, who have thus far failed to identify the manner of disposal of the offending item. Putting a ban is one thing, effective disposal and whether the Government can is a totally different thing. The least appropriate manner of disposal of Styrofoam or polystyrene for both the environment and people would be burning. It has been shown that when the offending agent is burned, toxic chemicals and smoke are released, the latter is harmful to both the nervous system and lungs. Burning needs to take place in a controlled environment and at extremely high temperatures, for when burned, Styrofoam releases more than 90 different hazardous chemicals and the resultant effects are vast and harmful to the health of any person present for the burning. Again the safety of not only the public but to a lesser extent the employees directly connected with the burning should be of prime concern. Again polystyrene takes at a minimum at least 500 years to decompose naturally. In a study conducted by scientists affiliated with the National Geographic, evidence showed that despite ocean-borne plastic trash having a reputation as an indestructible environmental offender, it was found that some plastics actually decompose rapidly in the ocean. And according to the researchers that is not a good thing, as the degrading plastics are leaking potentially harmful chemicals into the sea, possibly threatening marine life. However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research has not shown a clear link between any plastics and damage to marine life, but it also observes that the source of small plastics that are of the greatest concern is unknown.
So while we raise a hand to cheer the Government ban, let us ensure that disposal is conducted in the right way and it would not endanger the populace. Too much is at stake for mistakes to be made!
Yours faithfully,
Yvonne Sam
