House bill seeks to ban styrofoam to curb life-threatening diseases

A lawmaker has filed a bill seeking to prohibit the use of styrofoam packaging by food service businesses and operations in a bid to curb life-threatening diseases associated with the frequent use of the such packaging.

Rep. Reno Lim of Albay filed House Bill 6618 hoping to put an end to the use of food packaging using the polystyrene material, such as in styrofoam, and to encourage businesses to use recyclable or compostable food containers.

Lim cited epidemiologic studies that suggest there may be an association between styrene exposure and an increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma.

“Styrofoam is made of styrene. It is a suspected carcinogen and neurotoxin that were recently limited by the Food and Drug Administration in bottled drinking water. Studies have indicated that styrene residues are present 100 percent in all human fat tissues in the United States, wherein use of styrofoam is very rampant,” Lim said.

Besides the possible association of styrene and the increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma, the lawmaker explained that there is currently no efficient means of recycling polystyrene-based food packaging or styrofoam.

“Discarded polystyrene persists as litter and remains as such for the longest time posing as hazard to the environment,” Lim said.

Lim said HB 6618 needs to determine and implement programs that maximize material reuse and recycling and programs that will prohibit the use of materials that has limited usefulness.

HB 6618 also encourages the use of compostable and recyclable alternatives that are available that serve the same purpose as non-recyclable food service packaging.

Besides styrofoam, Lim said HB 6618 wants all plastic containers comprised of a majority polystyrene plasti resin that is used to contain prepared food designed for one-time use; plastic food containers not made from polye­thylene terephthalate or high density polyethylene, and food containers containing less than 100- percent consumer recycled paper content, to be banned in food service businesses.

The bill also provides the following penalties for any business operator violating the provisions: a fine of P50,000 for first offense, P100,000 for second offense, and P150,000 for third offense.

Lim said succeeding offenses committed in any 12-month period and in each day that the business operator fails to comply should constitute a separate violation. –Frank Lloyd Tiongson, Reporter, Manila Times