San Diego Small Businesses Face Increased Costs with Polystyrene Ban
In April, a ban on polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam, went into effect for small businesses in San Diego. This move is aimed at reducing the amount of plastic foam waste that ends up in the ocean and on beaches, costing the state and local governments millions of dollars each year to clean up.
While small businesses making less than $500,000 annually received a brief exemption, the cost of eliminating polystyrene waste now falls on the businesses that can afford it least. A study by the American Chemistry Council found that replacing polystyrene food containers with alternative materials could result in a 94% cost increase for businesses.
Despite the financial burden, some small businesses support the ban for environmental reasons. Bobby Kokinda, owner of Ocean Beach Meat Company, expressed his support, stating, “If for some chance something flies into the ocean, I’d rather it be a piece of paper than a piece of Styrofoam that’s going to be there for the next 3,000 years.”
San Diego is now one of over 130 California communities to implement a ban on polystyrene foodservice containers. The Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act mandates a statewide ban on these materials by 2025 unless recycling rates reach 25%.
While the ban may result in increased costs for small businesses, many are willing to make the change in order to protect the environment and reduce plastic pollution in the community.