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Prohibition on the use of polystyrene now official in Costa Rica By the A.M. Costa Rica staff President Carlos Alvarado signed Monday the Law No. 9703 for the integral management of residues. The signing took place at the National Center of Culture in San Jose*. The law prohibits the import, sale, and delivery of containers made with polystyrene by any commercial establishment. "It is necessary to make a change in our minds," said Alvarado after signed the law. "Today we are showing to Costa Rica that we are going to fight to safeguard fundamental rights such as the right to health, and we are sending a clear message that these actions respond to the unequivocal commitment that this government has to achieve decarbonization of the economy". As A.M. Costa Rica reported on June 18, the following situations are exempted from this prohibition: 1.) When for the conservation or protection of the products, the use of alternative materials is not environmentally viable. 2.) When the material is used in the packaging of household appliances and related items. 3.) And when polystyrene is used in industries. Polystyrene is a synthetic aromatic hydrocarbon polymer made from the monomer styrene. It can be solid or foamed. General-purpose polystyrene is clear, hard, and rather brittle. It is an inexpensive resin per unit weight. It is a rather poor barrier to oxygen and water vapor and has a relatively low melting point. Polystyrene is one of the most widely used plastics, the scale of its production being several million tons per year. Uses include protective packaging (such as packing peanuts and CD and DVD cases), containers, lids, bottles, trays, tumblers, disposable cutlery and in the making of models. According to the study "Polystyrene is slow to biodegrade. Regional distribution of styrene analogs generated from polystyrene degradation along the coastlines of the North-East Pacific Ocean and Hawaii. It accumulates as a litter in the outdoor environment, particularly along shores and waterways, especially in its foam form, and in the Pacific Ocean.” According to that report, on July 1, 2015, New York City became the largest city in the United States to prohibit the sale, possession, and distribution of single-use polystyrene foam. The initial decision was overturned on appeal. According to the American Enterprise Institute, whether polystyrene can be microwaved with food is controversial. Some containers may be used safely in microwave, but only if labeled as such. Some sources suggest using foods containing carotene (vitamin A) or cooking oils must be avoided because toxins are produced. Because of the pervasive use of polystyrene, these serious health-related issues remain topical. ---------------------------- Have you ever heard of the risk of using containers made on polystyrene for packing food? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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