WHEREAS, Landfill space is limited with tipping fees and landfill fees are an increasing issue for the City of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) is a type of plastic product that is petroleum based and made from oil. EPS foam is lightweight, sturdy, insulated and inexpensive which makes it an ideal choice for businesses to develop numerous products; and
WHEREAS, EPS does not biodegrade; and
WHEREAS, EPS may only take up 0.01 percent of the total municipal solid waste stream by weight, its volume is the actual problem. By volume, the amount of plastics in landfills is between 25-30 percent; and
WHEREAS,
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans throw away 25 billion Styrofoam cups annually; and
WHEREAS, An outright ban on EPS in other municipalities has had mixed results and threats of litigation from manufacturers; and
WHEREAS, Diverting EPS from our landfills and recycling these plastics in an environmentally friendly and cost effective sustainable way is not only good for our City’s bottom line but good for our environment; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia, Hereby authorizes the Joint Committees on The Environment and Streets and Services to hold hearings to explore the feasibility of the curbside recycling of # 6 plastics, expanded polystyrene foam products.
End