WESTFIELD – The Westfield Board of Health recently voted to ban the use of polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam, containers in restaurants, effective September 1.
“It’s a known carcinogen,” said BOH Director Joe Rouse, adding that it should not be used to hold hot food, hot drinks, or reheat food in the microwave. “We don’t want the residents to be exposed to it,” he said.
The federal Environmental Agency and the National Toxicology Program have issued warnings about the potential hazard of the materials. A bill in the state legislature (H. 2066) to prohibit the dispensing of food in disposable food service containers made from polystyrene or from expanded polystyrene is currently in the Joint Committee for Public Health.
South Hadley and Amherst have already instituted bans of the foam cups and containers. Other major population centers, such as New York City, have instituted a similar ban.
Rouse said the Board of Health will be getting notices out to everybody who is affected, so they have to time to use up their inventory and make the conversion.
The three-member Board of Health, all medical professionals, is empowered by a Mass. General Law to make reasonable health regulations, Rouse said.
