Letter to the Editor: Ban Styrofoam

The Chicago Sun-Times published a letter to the editor by LWV Chicago's Environmental Action Committee Co-chair Claudia Jackson on Friday, January 28. Read it here:

Ban plastics, styrofoam

“I’ve got one word for you, Benjamin: Plastics.” From the 1967 film, “The Graduate.”

And the plastic from Benjamin’s time is still hanging around today, polluting our waterways and filling our landfills. It’s time for Chicago and Illinois to get serious and pass legislation aimed at pitching plastic, and banning polystyrene foam is an easy way to start. It can not be reused, it is not accepted for curbside recycling, and it breaks apart into tiny pieces that endanger wild life.

HB3067 and SB1073 are bills being considered in both chambers of the state legislature to ban the sale and distribution of disposable food service containers made of polystyrene foam. Chicago has failed to pass an ordinance banning polystyrene, so we must look to the state to get this done. Eight states have already banned this ubiquitous polluter. We all need to call our representatives and get Illinois to join the movement.

—Claudia Jackson, Chicago

Jackson submitted the op-ed following a training session on writing letters to the editor led by the Coalition for Plastic Reform and co-sponsored by LWV Chicago on Wednesday, January 26.

Take action to ban styrofoam and join the Environmental Action Committee in taking action for a better environment: environment@lwvchicago.org.