California’s Manhattan Beach recently banned the sale and distribution of polystyrene foam, following the lead of several other California coastal cities and fellow west-coast districts like Seattle and Portland. The reason: the non-biodegradable packaging is a serious hazard for marine life. Polystyrene foam (like those white foam coffee cups many fast-food chains use) and other plastic containers break down into easily ingestible bits of plastic which are easy for aquatic animals like fish and turtles to choke on or swallow, potentially causing asphyxiation and starvation—some animals can’t pass the plastic, which creates a false sense of fullness in the gut. “At a certain point, there’s a possibility they won’t take in enough food and die,” says Nicholas Mallos, conservation biologist and marine debris specialist at Ocean Conservancy. So if plastic’s out, what about other takeout options, such as paper cups and compostable cutlery—those are fine, right? Not so much. Some experts say that because paper-based alternatives and compostables are heavier than polystyrene, and therefore less efficient to transport, plastics are a better option (plus, they don’t require the use of natural wood resources). Regardless, says Mallos, paper’s still a better bet for our sea friends. “There are pros and cons with all types of materials, but with respect to the marine environment, polystyrene and other forms of plastic pose a much greater threat than other types of takeout materials,” Mallos says. Bottom line: any type of disposable food service packaging will leave its mark on our ecosystem. The best way to minimize this is to use reusable items whenever possible, from bringing your own thermos to your local coffee shop to using washable flatware and plates for your brown-bag lunch. If that’s not an option, choose recyclable products and make sure they get into the right bin (see which material is easiest to recycle in your area at Earth911.com). More from Prevention: How Food Packaging Affects Your Willpower
