Maine’s Environment and Natural Resources Committee is holding a public hearing on LD 103, An Act to Prohibit the Use of Certain Disposable Food Service Containers, on Monday, February 6 at 1:00 p.m. in room 216 of the Cross Office Building in Augusta. Please attend and show your support for eliminating polystyrene (Styrofoam) food containers.
LD 103 proposes to prohibit the sale or distribution of polystyrene food service containers beginning January 1, 2018.
Maine Audubon strongly supports efforts to decrease the use of polystyrene because of its harmful effects on wildlife, especially coastal and marine wildlife. We strongly support LD 103.
Please attend the upcoming public hearing and testify in support of LD 103. If you can’t attend, please take a moment and contact ENR Committee members and urge them to support LD 103.
- Senator Tom Saviello, chair (Wilton)
Thomas.Saviello@legislature.maine.gov
(207) 645-3420 - Senator Amy Volk (Scarborough)
Amy.Volk@legislature.maine.gov
(207) 229-5091 - Senator Geoff Gratwick (Bangor)
Geoffrey.Gratwick@legislature.maine.gov
(207) 947-0637 - Representative Ralph Tucker, chair (Brunswick)
Ralph.Tucker@legislature.maine.gov
(207) 725-7639 - Representative Dick Campbell (Orrington)
Richard.Campbell@legislature.maine.gov
(207) 287-1440 - Representative Bob Duchesne (Hudson)
Robert.Duchesne@legislature.maine.gov
(207) 745-7748 - Representative Jessica Fay (Raymond)
Jessica.Fay@Legislature.Maine.gov
(207) 415-4218 - Representative Denise Harlow (Portland)
Denise.Harlow@legislature.maine.gov
(207) 409-0870 - Representative Jonathan Kinney (Limington)
Jonathan.Kinney@legislature.maine.gov
(207) 637-2366 - Representative John Martin (Eagle Lake)
John.Martin@legislature.maine.gov
(207) 444-5556 - Representative Jeff Pierce (Dresden)
Jeff.Pierce@legislature.maine.gov
(207) 441-3006 - Representative Scott Strom (Pittsfield)
Scott.Strom@Legislature.Maine.gov
(207) 313-3895 - Representative Stanley Zeigler (Montville)
Stanley.Zeigler@Legislature.Maine.gov
(207) 323-6044
Tens of thousands of whales, birds, seals, and turtles are killed every year due to floating marine debris and beach debris, which includes polystyrene.
Styrofoam packaging (polystyrene) rarely gets recycled, breaks down easily into smaller pieces, and is lightweight, so it easily is blown into our waters where it can be ingested by wildlife. Once ingested, polystyrene cannot be digested or passed by an animal so it stays in the gut. This can prevent food digestion and can lead to a very slow and painful death.
Turning the tide on decreasing plastic debris requires a global effort. Many are helping by taking action at the local level. Now is the time to take action at the state level as well.
Please attend the hearing February 6 at 1:00 pm and contact ENR committee members, urging them to support LD 103.
Thank you!
Jenn Burns Gray
Maine Audubon Staff Attorney and Advocate
jgray@maineaudubon.org
(207) 781-2330 x224
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