Environment Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6502
AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF CERTAIN POLYSTYRENE PRODUCTS,
THE AVAILABILITY OF SINGLE-USE STRAWS, THE RELEASE OF CERTAIN
BALLOONS AND THE COMPOSTABLE NATURE OF SINGLE-USE PRODUCE
Title: BAGS.
Vote Date: 3/12/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 3/3/2021
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Rep. David Michel, 146th Dist.
Rep. Christine Conley, 40th Dist.
Rep. Mary M. Mushinsky, 85th Dist.
Rep. Dorinda Borer, 115th Dist.
REASONS FOR BILL:
Polystyrene products, single use plastic straws and helium balloons are products that
contribute to pollution, cause harm to the human health and the environment, and take
thousands of years to disintegrate in a trash pile.
Prohibition of these products provide a sustainable path forward with reusable and recyclable
products.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Charlene Russell-Tucker, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Education
Department of Education (DoE) supports the concepts of environmental initiatives. The
practical idea of banning polystyrene products is challenging. Connecticut PK-12 serves 46
million lunches and 18 million breakfasts, the aggregate cost is between $2.75M and $3.25M.
Current resources do support alternative products to include recycled trays or reusable
products. It is estimated that 90% of reusable products need to be replaced annually and
does not include the infrastructure to support cleaning reusable products.
If no funding is provided to PK-12 school districts to assist with implementation of HP6502,
then DoE requests exemption of PK-12 school from HB6502.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Representative Irene Haines
Connecticut's general statutes prohibit the intention release of more than ten balloons. The
current general statues should be amended to prohibit the release of balloons. Balloons that
end up in the environment cause damage to wildlife through entanglement or ingestion.
Balloons have been entwined in infrastructure, inclusive of power wires, can cause fires and
power outages.
Ann Gadwah, Advocacy and Outreach Organizer, Sierra Club CT
Several Connecticut towns have banned Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) food containers as
due to its environmental impact. EPS does not break down in the natural environment but
breaks down in to microplastics in the marine environment. Sierra Club recommends
strengthening the EPS section of HB6502, to remove polystyrene lunch trays from school
districts and higher education prior to July 2023.
Sierra Club strongly supports the ban of single use straws. The environment is littered with
tons of single use plastics. There must be an effort to eliminate single use plastic as possible.
Helium balloons pollute the environment and endanger wildlife. Like polystyrene they
breakdown into microplastics. Sierra Club supports a total prohibition on helium balloon
releases.
Single plastic produce bags are advertised as biodegradable or compostable. If the bags are
not disposed of correctly, these bags are a danger to the environment.
Louis Rosado Burch, Citizens Campaign for the Environment
EPS recycling is not available in Connecticut. New EPS products are manufactured from
virgin materials made from fossil fuels. EPS products are typically disposed of in the
Municipal Waste System (MSW), contributing to the high management waste costs of
municipalities.
HB6502 single use straws provide flexibility to business owners, while significantly cutting
down on plastic garbage generated.
California and New Hampshire have banned the intentional release helium balloons.
Connecticut currently prohibits the release of ten or more balloons in a twenty-four-hour
period. Citizens Campaign for the Environment recognizes the law does not guarantee
individually sold or distributed balloons do not create a pollution hazard.
Page 2 of 4 HB-6502
Bioplastics are still plastics, a hybrid of plant-based and petrochemical products. If
bioplastics are not disposed of properly, there is a significant impact on the environment.
Megan Macomber, Connecticut League of Conservation Voters
Polystyrene, balloons, single use straws and single use plastic bags pose threats to wildlife
and the environment. The marine environment is very susceptible to plastic contamination
from microplastics to ingestion by sea life.
Bill Lucey, Soundkeeper, Save the Sound
Save the Sound conducts 70 beach cleanups every summer. The makeup of the garbage
collected includes polystyrene, straws, plastic bags and balloons. The breakdown of these
materials into microplastics and other chemicals are harmful to marine life in the entire food
chain.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
Margaret Gorman, American Council of Chemistry
American Council of Chemistry (ACC) and its members are very concerned with issue of
garbage and marine debris. The ACC works with government, non-government, retail and
consumers to develop means to prevent litter and marine debris.
The removal of plastics may have unintended consequences for increasing other
environmental impacts.
Alternative Litter Will Increase More than Plastics Decline
Alternatives Likely to Increase Environmental Impacts
Compostable Packaging Does Not Reduce Litter and Composting Infrastructure is
Lacking
ACC supports reducing landfill disposal, marine debris and litter requires a variety of tools.
Improving waste management and increases in recycling is key to addressing these issues.
Erica Biagetti, President, School Nutrition Association of Connecticut
The Office of Fiscal Analysis 2019 Impact Statement on the cost of eliminating polystyrene
trays in schools estimated an additional cost of between $1.9 and $2.7 million statewide.
Child nutrition programs are the "first line of defense" against child hunger. Under normal
circumstances, approximately 40% of school districts operate at a loss or break even.
Without additional funding to offset the cost of critical programs, the pressure to feed
Connecticut's children is immense.
Connecticut Association of School Business Officials
Paper trays cost three to five times more than polystyrene trays. The selection of papers
trays is limited. Reusable trays are another suggestion, many districts do not have the
infrastructure to clean or a large percentage are disposed of thus need replacement.
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School districts have few alternatives. The increase to school districts is significant. School
districts will have to increase the cost of meals or request increased financial support from
taxpayers.
Connecticut Restaurant Association
The Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) represents 8,500 restaurants and 160,000
restaurant and foodservice employees. Many of CRA's restaurants have transitioned from
polystyrene packaging and eliminated the use of plastic straws. Others do not have the
financial resources to make the transition, as they are struggling to survive. CRA supports
the ability of business owners to make the best choice.
Reported by: Steve Smith Date: 3/17/21
Page 4 of 4 HB-6502


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 26-25c
ENV Joint Favorable: 26-25c
File No. 209: 26-25c