Take out in CA, but not in styrofoam

Environmental News Network reports that Palo Alto, California will ban polystyrene take out food containers next year.

Palo Alto will join 22 other coastal California cities to enact the styrofoam ban. San Francisco started the plastic container ban trend in 2007.

The ban extends to containers, clam shells, bowls, plates, cartons and cups. However, it does not affect straws, utensils or hot up lids. In January, Palo Alto stopped accepting polystyrene packing peanuts and polystyrene blocks used in consumer goods packaging. But while the ban will reduce Palo Alto’s waste, that’s not the initial intention of the prohibition. The current economic recession carried a lot of weight for lawmakers proposing the ban.

Read the full story: Styrofoam ban grows in California

Seattle has already banned these containers (picture above) as written about in The Seattle Times "All you can eat" blog by Nancy Leson.