12/4/10
San Diego city officials are studying whether phasing out Styrofoam and plastic water bottles at City Hall and city events could lead to cost savings while improving water quality and protecting the coast.
The Mayor’s Office will work with nonprofit group San Diego Coastkeeper to quantify the city’s use of such products and offer alternatives such as urging workers to drink city water and bring reusable cups.
Styrofoam and plastic are the most common debris found at San Diego County beaches following cigarette butts, conservationists say. The petroleum-based products take a long time to biodegrade and pose environmental threats. Styrofoam products, such as egg cartons and packaging foam peanuts, are not included in the city’s recycling program.
Efforts to reduce plastic and Styrofoam have spread throughout California in recent years, with 41 municipalities in the state enacting related measures, according to Coastkeeper. They include Berkeley, San Francisco, Santa Monica and West Hollywood.
