Environment Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-118
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF CERTAIN POLYSTYRENE PRODUCTS.
Vote Date: 3/4/2022
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 2/25/2022
File No.: 66
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:
Environment Committee
Co-Sponsors of Bill:
Rep. John K. Hampton, 16th Dist. Rep. Josh Elliott, 88th Dist.
Rep. Christine Palm, 36th Dist. Rep. Stephanie Thomas, 143rd Dist.
Rep. David Michel, 146th Dist. Rep. Brandon Chafee, 33rd Dist.
Rep. Michael A. Winkler, 56th Dist. Rep. Maria P. Horn, 64th Dist.
Rep. Geraldo C. Reyes, 75th Dist. Rep. Lucy Dathan, 142nd Dist.
REASONS FOR BILL:
Currently many schools, caterers and restaurants use polystyrene containers and trays in
their cafeterias and for take-out. Polystyrene is a toxic substance that creates hazardous
waste. It is slow to degrade and when not properly recycled it is a danger to our marine and
wildlife. By banning the use of polystyrene containers, it will help Connecticut with managing
its solid waste management as well as save our marine and wildlife.
Proposed Substitute Language
Section 2: (2)(g) Lines 68 to 72 have been added.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Charlene Russell-Tucker, Commissioner Designate, Department of Education, State of
Connecticut
There are supply shortages that may not allow schools to discontinue the use of trays made
from expanded polystyrene by July 1, 2024. Schools in the state serve over 100 million
meals. There are concerns regarding availability of polystyrene alternatives in the future.
There is also the alternative of using reusable trays. Reports have shown that upwards of
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90% are lost annually due to being thrown away or broken. This would result in additional
costs for the state as along with costs for maintenance of reusable trays.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Janet Bellamy, Ashford, CT
The styrene can leach from containers at higher temperatures and with certain foods.
Polystyrene cannot be recycled. Polystyrene does not biodegrade. It will remain in the
environment and in human and animals bodies.
Amy Blaymore Paterson, Connecticut Land Conservation Council
We need to do everything we can to help protect our land. Polystyrene litter is bad for the
environment and wildlife. Reducing the use will help keep our land and water clean while also
protecting wildlife.
Lori Brown, Executive Director, Connecticut League of Conservation Voters
Polystyrene products are rarely biodegradable and can remain in the environment years after
they are discarded by the consumer. The pollution usually falls disproportionately on low-
income communities and communities of color. Polystyrene products pose serious threats to
marine life, wildlife, and human health. Chemicals found in polystyrene have been identified
as carcinogens by the Department of Health and Human Services. These chemicals should
not be in our food, water or airways.
James Adams, New Haven, CT
Mr. Adams testified in strong support of the bill. Polystyrene also adds a significant burden to
CTs current waste disposal problems. It is hard to dispose of polystyrene since it is
extremely slow to degrade, cannot be recycled, and releases toxins.
Mr. Tom Adamski, Southbury, CT
Mr. Adamski testified in support of the bill. Polystyrene attracts and hold toxins that can harm
marine life. Mr. Adamski suggested that the language Recycling for plastics includes a fuel
that is converted to a raw material that is used for the manufacture of new products, should
not be included in the bill. This could lead to a demand of single use plastics.
Mrs. Myra Aronow, Haddam, CT
Mrs. Aronow testified in support of the bill. Polystyrene attracts and hold toxins that can harm
marine life. Mrs. Aronow suggested that the language Recycling for plastics includes a fuel
that is converted to a raw material that is used for the manufacture of new products, should
not be included in the bill. This could lead to a demand of single use plastics.
Hector Arzeno, Cos Cob, CT
Hector Arzeno testified in full support in SB 118.
Abe Baker-Butler, New Haven, CT
Abe Baker-Butler testified in strong support of SB 118. Students are put at risk from eating off
polystyrene trays. They can also lead to significant irritation and health risks. Polystyrene has
extremely harmful environmental impact and should not be used in our state.
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Betty Ball, BYO Norwalk, and Jeanine Behr Getz, BYOCT
BYOCT strongly supports sb 118. BYOCT ordinances have banned non-essential
polystyrene. BYOCT suggested language changes to strengthen SB 118.
Vincent Brancato, Woodbury, CT
Polystyrene products are a plight in so many ways. They do not decompose and would be in
our landfills, or oceans forever when disposed of unless they are incinerated which would
cost both energy and serve to pollute the air we breathe.
Alicea Charamut, Executive Director, Rivers Alliance of Connecticut
Talk to anyone who has participated in river clean up and they will tell you single-use
polystyrene is a serious threat to our waters and aquatic environment. It easily breaks down
into small pieces and is impossible to remove from riverbanks and shorelines, it then makes it
to the ocean. School-aged children, teenagers and college students are more aware than
older adults of the problem that polystyrene causes to the environment. Connecticut is
experiencing a solid waste management crisis. Mandating a discontinuation of trays made
from expanded polystyrene will aid in reducing waste.
Patrick M. Comins, Executive Director, The Connecticut Audubon Society
This bill will prohibit the use of certain single use polystyrene trays in schools. This makes
sense since polystyrene has a long life in the waste chain. Non-biodegradable waste is an
important global problem, and we see it on the shores of Long Island Sound. The Audubon
Society supports any attempts to reduce environmental plastic and polystyrene waste.
Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA)
CHA supports the goals of this bill; however, they would like two modifications. During the
recent pandemic hospitals and providers faced significant supply chain disruptions which
made the availability of these products very limited, forcing providers to revert to use of
alternative supplies. The bill should allow for flexibility if this occurs. We also would like
definition of restaurant includes an exemption for the use of these products in patient care
settings. At times the health conditions of a patient warrant the use of this type of product.
Elizabeth Dempsey, Conservation Coalition
The Conservation Coalition supports this bill addressing this toxic plastic that exposes
Connecticut's citizens to health risks and plagues our municipal waste streams. We do feel
that it as written does not have the same strength as HB6502 that was proposed last year.
Polystyrene is a serious threat to our state given that educational venues and restaurants use
polystyrene every day. Polystyrene has health risks and is deadly to our environment. WE
support this bill with changes.
Julie DesChamps, ReThink Disposable, CT
Polystyrene trays and other food service containers may seem inexpensive options, they are
not recommended as they are costly from a lifecycle perspective with hidden externalities that
are linked to many human health, social justice and environmental concerns. Simply put,
polystyrene food service ware has no place in our state. Banning polystyrene food ware is
for the betterment of public health, environmental justice and the environment.
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Dolco Packaging
Dolco Packaging supports this proposal with one technical modification. On line 45 we
respectfully ask to replace the word "sealed with "packaged for shipment".
Susan Eastwood, Founder and Chair, Ashford Clean Energy Task Force
Susan Eastwood, the Founder and Chair of the Ashford Clean Energy Task Force, supports
the bill while offering modifications. This important bill would significantly reduce plastics in
the waste stream and in the environment. Reducing polystyrene in our waste stream would
reduce waste, waste costs, and benefit public health. As written, the bill would cut down on
use of polystyrene lunch trays and single use containers. Mrs. Eastwood asks that the bill be
expanded to include all non-essential disposable materials made from expanded polystyrene
and straws made from petroleum or bio-based plastics. Further, Mrs. Eastwood believes
distribution or sale of polystyrene products should be prohibited for all owners or operators of
a retail establishment or catering business, State of Connecticut Department or facility, or
State sponsored event.
Pam Ferraro
Mrs. Ferraro supports the bill, stating that discontinuing the use of certain polystyrene trays in
schools and certain polystyrene containers for food from restaurants is a no brainer.
Nathan Frohling, Director of External Affairs, Nature Conservancy
Mr. Frohling, the Director of External Affairs of The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut,
supports the bill. The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut (TNC) has consulted with their
partners and colleagues, thorough these conversations they understand the serious threat
that polystyrene products pose to marine ecosystems, wildlife and human health and the
importance of the bill.
Ann Gadwah, Outreach Organizer, Sierra Club Connecticut
Ms. Gadwah, the outreach organizer of the Sierra Club of Connecticut, supports the bill with
recommendations to strengthen and allow for local efforts to further eliminate plastic waste in
our communities. Expanded polystyrene (ESP) is not recyclable here in the state and does
not break down in the natural environment. Rather it breaks into microplastics and pollutes
our waterways, threatening marine life. Many municipalities have already banned ESP
containers, including New York State, Groton, Norwalk, Stamford, and Westport. The Sierra
Club of Connecticut would like to see the bill improved through inclusion of an expanded
definition of polystyrene food service product, amending the statement in section 2 line 20 to
July 2023, and ensure that any statewide ban does not preempt municipalities from passing
their own stronger policies regarding EPS.
Lauren Gardner
Lauren Gardner, a graduate student from Simsbury attending UCONN, is in favor of the bill.
Polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam, is viewed as a cost-effective material for food service.
However, she believes the overall cost of managing its waste and its impact on our
environment and our health far outweighs any benefit of the material's use. Polystyrene is not
recycled in Connecticut and takes up excessive space in landfills. Mrs. Gardner believes that
with readily available, sustainable alternatives, there is no need to continue the use of
polystyrene.
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Annie Hornish, Connecticut Senior State Director, Humane Society of the United States
Ms. Hornish, on behalf of the Connecticut-based supporters of The Humane Society of the
United States, supports the bill. She notes that single use polystyrene containers are
detrimental to wildlife and the environment. She also notes that plastic washes into our
oceans and break down into microplastics, which are pervasive throughout our ocean
ecosystem.
Mari Jackson, Sustainable Trumbull
Ms. Jackson, a member of the Town of Trumbull's Sustainable Team and the ReThink
Disposable CT group, supports the bill. Due to the impending closing of one of the
incinerators in the state, we have an opportunity to make changes for reducing waste. She
encourages an amendment to the bill be included discontinuing the use of additional single-
use items such as non-essential disposable trays, cups, bowls, lids, sleeves, utensils, plates
and hinges or lidded containers made from polystyrene and straws made from petroleum of
bio-based plastics.
Michelle Lipar
Mrs. Lipar testified in support of the bill. She notes the environmental harm of utilizing single
use items. Also noted is the impact these items have on human health, noting a 2020 Report
on Carcinogens by the US Department of Health and Human Services in which a component
of polystyrene was listed as a likely human carcinogen. Mrs. Lipar hopes this year can see
the passing of this bill, but that the legislature will continue to act to make environmental
stewardship a norm rather than a political debate.
Bill Lucey, Long Island Soundkeeper, Save the Sound
The organization Save the Sound (STS) supports this bill. They expressed how frequent
pollution can be found on the beaches and while frequent cleanups of the beach are done,
more pollution soon follows. They explain how common polystyrene is found in pollution and
how toxic its effects are on marine life, and by passing this bill, it can help to lessen some of
those effects stated previously.
Katherine Owens, Professor, University of Hartford
The increase of plastic pollution has grown to an enormous amount, about 350 million tons
per year. She believes something needs to be done to reform the systems that handle this
waste and one way to start is by reducing polystyrene being used within schools and
restaurants.
Jason Patlis, President & CEO, The Maritime Aquarium
They are in support of this bill, as it handles discontinuing products that can be harmful to a
variety of marine life and the environment, while at the same time proposing better and
cleaner alternatives to use. They go on to explain how plastics is used so much and how it
will easily find itself in places that it should not be, such as the ocean. However, if this bill
passes, they believe it is an encouraging first step to having a more positive impact on the
environment.
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Chris Phelps, State Director, Environment Connecticut
There is an increasing number of pollutants in the world every day and by doing so impact
not just humanity but the wildlife as well. One of the most toxic forms of plastic pollution is
through polystyrene foam (Styrofoam). It breaks apart and can be spread easily as trash, and
by passing this bill, it can help greatly reduce that kind of pollution.
Halle L. Pierce
As polystyrene is not much of a recyclable and does not degrade, she believes this bill can
help lessen the issues of overusing toxic foodservice packaging by using more paper and
reusable containers these methods would be alternative usages by supporting this bill.
Dave Raunch
Mr. Raunch is in support of this bill because of the positive impact it can have on improving
the environment and how these alternative methods can be less harmful to it.
Lawrence Tang, New Haven, CT
Abe Baker-Butler testified in strong support of SB 118. Students are put at risk from eating off
polystyrene trays. They can also lead to significant irritation and health risks. Polystyrene has
extremely harmful environmental impact and should not be used in our state. The
manufacturing process also poses a dangerous threat to the city of New Haven due to its
location in a low-lying flood zone.
Patricia Taylor, Director of the Plastics and Waste Reduction Project Environment and
Human Health, Inc., North Haven, CT
The Plastics and Waste Reduction Project for Environment and Human Health, Inc testified in
full support of SB 118. These products are very harmful and cannot be recycled. EHHI
suggested language changed that would prohibit plastic straws and other products to be used
with exceptions for specific customer requests. The bill must be effective by no later than July
1, 2023.
Ms. Nancy Urban, West Hartford, CT
Ms. Urban testified in support of the bill. Polystyrene attracts and hold toxins that can harm
marine life. Ms. Urban suggested that the language Recycling for plastics includes a fuel that
is converted to a raw material that is used for the manufacture of new products, should not
be included in the bill. This could lead to a demand of single use plastics.
Mrs. Susan VanDerzee, Cromwell, CT
Mrs. VanDerzee testified in support of the bill. Polystyrene attracts and hold toxins that can
harm marine life. Mrs. VanDerzee suggested that the language Recycling for plastics
includes a fuel that is converted to a raw material that is used for the manufacture of new
products, should not be included in the bill. This could lead to a demand of single use
plastics.
Jamila Viandier, Stafford Springs, CT
Jamila Viandier strongly supports SB 118 and believes it would help eliminate environmental
hazards.
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Svetlana Wasserman, Greenwich, CT
Svetlana Wasserman supports SB 118. Styrene is harmful and puts students who get free
and reduced meals at risk. Polystyrene is not recycled in CT. The state should follow the lead
of municipalities that have banned polystyrene.
Ms. Susan Yolen, New Haven, CT
Ms. Yolen testified in support of the bill. Polystyrene attracts and hold toxins that can harm
marine life. Ms. Yolen suggested that the language Recycling for plastics includes a fuel that
is converted to a raw material that is used for the manufacture of new products, should not
be included in the bill. This could lead to a demand of single use plastics.
Ms. Alison Zyla, Clinton, CT
Ms. Zyla testified in support of the bill. Polystyrene attracts and hold toxins that can harm
marine life. Ms. Zyla suggested that the language Recycling for plastics includes a fuel that
is converted to a raw material that is used for the manufacture of new products, should not
be included in the bill. This could lead to a demand of single use plastics.
Susan Durant, Wallingford, CT
With all the types of plastic po