MARYLAND - House Bill 109 in Annapolis could change the way Marylanders get take-out, or at least the way they bring their food home. The bill aims to ban polystyrene food service containers in the state, often referred to as Styrofoam.
At Kellyn's Cafe in Salisbury, owner Andrew Hanna says his business currently uses the polystyrene containers but is looking to move away from them, so he would welcome the ban in Maryland.
"I think it's a great idea to be honest with you. It's something we need to move towards. Getting logistics and all the little details will be the fun thing, but I think it's a great idea," Hanna told WBOC.
The Ocean City Chapter of the Surf Rider Foundation is also in support of the ban, and even created a call to action page so Marylanders can let their representatives know they support the ban as well. Officials with the foundation believe the polystyrene not only creates too much litter in the state's streets and waterways, but also breaks down into small pieces and can be harmful for marine life.
HB 109 is still in its early stages. There was a hearing held on the bill Thursday in the Environment and Transportation committee in Annapolis. If the ban were to become law, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2020. That would give people like Selina Liderman at Goin' Nuts Cafe in Salisbury time to adjust to the rule change. But whether its Goin' Nuts, or Kellyn's Cafe, or many other local businesses and restaurants, they say there will be a cost associated with the change.
"A big cost. But again, switching would be to plastic. And that's just not an option, not to mention it's more money," Liderman told WBOC. Liderman went on to say that she would hate to see an increase in the already high amount of plastic litter as well, like there is already with the polystyrene.
If the bill were to become a law, local county health departments would enforce the restriction and would be able to levy fines of $250 for using or selling the polystyrene food service containers.